NSW minister quits, misconduct claims referred to ICAC

Luke Costin and Duncan Murray | August 2, 2023

An MP’s undisclosed family property interests have prompted the first ministerial resignation of the NSW Labor government and a referral to the state’s corruption body.

At a snap press conference, Premier Chris Minns announced Tim Crakanthorp’s resignation from his various portfolios over a failure to disclose conflicts of interest.

The minister for the Hunter only recently declared substantial commercial land holdings by his wife and her parents in the region, constituting a significant breach of the ministerial code of conduct, the premier said.

Mr Minns said he was informed of the breach on Wednesday having learned of the “significant” property interests earlier in the week.

Mr Crakanthorp’s rationale for not declaring the interest and how the potential conflict was revealed has not been disclosed.

In a brief statement, the Newcastle MP said he reported the code of conduct breach to the premier and resigned as a minister.

The matter has also been referred to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Mr Minns said the breach led to concerns Mr Crakanthorp might have acted in a matter in which there was a conflict between his public duties and private interests.

“If (ICAC) open an inquiry and regard it as serious enough to launch an investigation … he cannot stay in the NSW parliamentary Labor party,” he said.

Mr Crakanthorp’s family’s property interests also hit the spotlight during his successful by-election campaign in 2014.

Following the resignation, Deputy Premier Prue Car will take the skills, TAFE and tertiary education and training portfolios on an interim basis.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley will assume responsibility for the Hunter.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said Mr Minns should detail the commercial real estate holdings and ministerial decisions potentially impacted by them as well as the future of those decisions.

“What we’ve seen in the first 129 days of this government through inexperience (and) arrogance is a failure to manage conflicts of interest properly,” he said.

The ministerial code of conduct states it is essential for public confidence that ministers pursue and be seen to pursue the best interests of the people of NSW to the exclusion of any other interest.

Breaches of the code can lead to a finding of corrupt conduct by ICAC.

The integrity watchdog in June found former Liberal premier Gladys Berejiklian had engaged in serious corrupt conduct by involving herself in decisions in Wagga while in a long-term romantic relationship with local MP Daryl Maguire.