by Luis Feliu From the
Echo
On Saturday, Fairfax Media revealed that Metgasco’s largest
shareholder, ERM Power, won an open tender to supply electricity to
government departments including NSW Health, Attorney-General and
Justice and Education and Communities.
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| At GATE A - BENTLEY BLOCKADE - STOCKADE |
ERM chairman Tony Bellas, the media group reported, is in business
with Mr Obeid’s nephew Dennis Jabour and has links to controversial
Liberal Party identity Nick Di Girolamo, who have both been targeted by
the ICAC probe into infrastructure company Australian Water Holdings.
Mr Bellas is also a former director of Australian Water Queensland, for whom Mr Obeid’s son Eddie Obeid jnr once worked.
ERM, according to the Fairfax Media report, told the stock exchange
in an April 24 statement that the contracts, worth $900 million over
three years, meant ERM is now the largest electricity supplier to the
NSW government.
ERM, the report said, has also been able to secure a $100 million,
12-month extension to a four-year contract with the federal government.
Under the contract ERM supplies electricity to 80 government
departments including Parliament House, Government House, the Australian
War Memorial and NSW defence sites including RAAF Williamtown and
Holdsworthy Barracks.
Energy minister Roberts said he had no concerns about the awarding of
the contracts, while ERM chief executive Philip St Baker said in a
statement that the company ‘has not, and has never had any, connection’
with Mr Obeid and his family, Australian Water Holdings, Australian
Water Queensland or Mr Di Girolamo.
Mr St Baker told Fairfax Media that ERM Power was not represented on
the Metgasco board nor involved in its management, and ‘exercises no
influence over the company’.
That was echoed by Metgasco in its statement saying it ‘is not aware
of any matter involving the conduct of Metgasco, its staff or of its
shareholders that would constitute grounds for an investigation by
ICAC’.
An angry chief executive Peter Henderson told ABC radio on Friday
that Metgaso had received no warning of the suspension and would seek
compensation from the state government.
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| At GATE A - BENTLEY BLOCKADE - STOCKADE |
Images @ Eminpee Fotography
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