Londonderry MP Bart Bassett was contradicted at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) last Wednesday, September 3 when Mark Regent, contracted consultant for the Redbank housing development, claimed Mr Bassett was aware of and had sought out an illegal donation for his 2011 state election campaign.
When he had appeared in the witness box the day before, on September 2, Mr Bassett had claimed he had no knowledge of an $18,000 donation from Buildev made in 2010.
When asked how his 2011 campaign was funded, Mr Bassett said ‘‘I can’t exactly answer that,’’ adding he was kept ‘‘at arms length’’.
Mr Bassett said donations could have been sent to the Liberal head office, which meant they would not be declared by him or his team.
“I had a clear policy of not getting involved in donations,” he said.
Mr Bassett said they should be speaking with Mayor Kim Ford who was his campaign manager at the time.
Reappearing at ICAC on September 3, Mr Bassett remained unable to explain the $18,000 donation, also denying he had a ‘‘close relationship’’ with Buildev and that it was a ‘‘working relationship’’. Mr Bassett also denied that in his role as Hawkesbury mayor he voted for the North Richmond development in a way that would financially benefit Buildev.
‘‘It was based on the issues at hand. . . nothing to do with the landowner,’’ he said, adding it had been recommended by Council staff.
Mr Bassetts lawyer said his client was substantially affected at that time by a positive test for prostate cancer and said it could have affected his ability to recall conversations at that time.
The ICAC revealed that in 2008, $23,500 in donations were made by Buildev, and put aside for Mr Bassett’s campaign. Developer donations were made illegal in 2009.
It was also revealed that the Buildev development application was lodged seven weeks after the $23,500 donation.
‘‘That DA was lodged with Council, not me,’’ Mr Bassett said. Mr Bassett agreed that Buildev executives landed a helicopter in his yard for a private meeting in 2007.
‘‘Did you see any problem with meeting at your house?" Mr Bassett’s lawyer asked. ‘‘No, I didn’t, because it was just a meet and greet,’’ he said.
Mr Regent said he had several conversations with Mr Bassett between 2007-10 regarding donations to the Liberals, and that Mr Bassett came to him in 2010 seeking funding for his election campaign.
Mr Regent said he told him Buildev couldn’t, and Mr Bassett asked him if he would speak to Darren Williams (co-founder of Buildev).
Mr Regent said he believed he passed on a message to Mr Williams, and Mr Bassett called some time later asking him to ‘‘thank Darren for his support’’. Mr Bassett’s lawyer accused Mr Regent of lying.
‘‘I stand by the evidence I provided to the ICAC today and refute allegations that I solicited donations from a prohibited donor prior to the 2011 state election,’’ Mr Bassett said in a statement released by his office that afternoon.
At ICAC last Friday, NSW Liberal Party finance director Simon McInnes said Mr Bassett ‘‘procured’’ a donation from Buildev in 2008 to be used on the 2011 state campaign.
