NSW: Opposition call for police minister to stand down

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-1999
NSW: Opposition call for police minister to stand down

SYDNEY, Aug 2 AAP - New South Wales Police Minister Paul Whelan should stand down until the
state's corruption watchdog had investigated allegations against him, the opposition said
today.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Mr Whelan was being investigated by the Independent
Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) over allegations he encouraged MPs to book official trips
through a travel agency associated with his wife Colleen.

An ICAC spokesman today said investigations were continuing into MPs' travel arrangements,
but he could not comment on whether Mr Whelan was under scrutiny.

Opposition Leader Kerry Chikarovski said it was inappropriate for a politician to hold the
office of police minister while facing an investigation.

"These are very serious allegations about conduct, they involve the minister for police,
who has a clear role in ensuring conduct in this state is appropriate," Mrs Chikarovski said.

"So we think he should be out of that position while these matters are being investigated.

"The public are entitled in these days of accountability to make sure that people like the
minister are in positions where they can actually be properly investigated if there are
allegations of this sort."

Mr Whelan has a defamation action underway against The Sun-Herald newspaper, which first
raised the allegations last December.

Mr Whelan declined to comment today because the defamation action is still before the
courts.

An ICAC report into parliamentary travel last year revealed up to 25 MPs were being
investigated over their taxpayer-funded travel arrangements.

It cited a case study where MPs were encouraged to use an agent associated with an MP's
family.

The report said the case was a conflict of interest and gave rise to perceptions of
favouritism.

The ICAC spokesman said he did not know if private hearings had been held into that case
study.

AAP ns/jo/rsm

KEYWORD: WHELAN CHIKAROVSKI

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