TWO former NSW fisheries ministers face possible criminal charges after being found to have acted corruptly over a coal mining deal.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) this week delivered scathing verdicts against disgraced former ALP politicians Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid.
According to media reports, the men now face jail time if they are found guilty of possible fraud charges.
As fisheries minister in the 1990s, Eddie Obeid garnered praise for policies that included buying out commercial effort, instigating a recreational fishing licence and creating a network of recreational fishing havens.
“Eddie obviously engaged in some pretty shonky business deals but he did do some good things for recreational fishing in NSW,” one fishing industry source told Fisho today.
Ian Macdonald, who replaced Obeid in the fisheries portfolio, will not be remembered so fondly.
“Macdonald was without doubt the worst fisheries minister ever,” the source said.
