NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard has angrily rejected reports of a conflict of interest in his office related to a proposed coal mine extension that was rejected.
News Corp Australia reports the minister's chief-of-staff Kath McFarlane did not disclose the fact she owned properties near the proposed extension of the Coalpac mine near Lithgow.
The extension was rejected despite the support of Treasury and Trade and Investment, which was in favour of 150 direct jobs being created.
Coalpac's chief executive Ian Follington told News Corp that neither Mr Hazzard or Ms McFarlane declared she owned property near the site.
Mr Hazzard told ABC radio that although Treasury supported the plan, the site was near a sensitive national park and those issues also had to be considered.
He said the process happened at "arm's length" from his office and the story was "a massive beat up".
"This is the joys of being a planning minister, you have to cop it when people don't like the decisions, but it is not a conflict of interest, it is absolutely transparent," he said.
The minister said it was unfortunate that jobs were lost as a result of the decision, but it was made based on its merits.
31 Oct, 2013
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/newscomaunationalbreakingnewsndm/~3/cOJ8oap6d1I/story01.htm
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