Global InformationEddie Obeid information
Eddie Obeid | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Mineral Resources | |
| In office 8 April 1999 – 2 April 2003 | |
| Premier | Bob Carr |
| Preceded by | Bob Martin |
| Succeeded by | Kerry Hickey |
| Minister for Fisheries | |
| In office 8 April 1999 – 2 April 2003 | |
| Premier | Bob Carr |
| Preceded by | Bob Martin |
| Succeeded by | Ian Macdonald |
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council | |
| In office 12 September 1991 – 10 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Hallam |
| Succeeded by | Walt Secord |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward Moses Obeid 25 October 1943 Matrite, Greater Lebanon |
| Political party | Labor Party (1972-2013)[1] |
| Spouse | Judith Obeid (m.1965) |
| Children | Nine |
Edward Moses Obeid (born 25 October 1943) is a retired Australian politician and convicted criminal, who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1991 and 2011, representing the Labor Party. He was the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for Mineral Resources from 1999–2003. Prior to the March 2015 expiry of his term in the Legislative Council, Obeid announced his decision to retire early on 10 May 2011, citing family reasons.[2]
During his parliamentary career, Obeid was considered by many to be a "power broker"[3] in the New South Wales Labor Party, belonging to the dominant right-wing sub-faction, often referred to as The Terrigals, so named as its inaugural meeting was held at Obeid's beach house in Terrigal.[4] It was reported that Obeid might retire at the 2011 state election, prior to the expiry of his term;[5] however, he waited until the election was concluded.[2][6][7] Obeid, who joined the Labor Party in 1972, was expelled from the party in May 2013 for bringing the party into disrepute.[1]
A series of three investigative hearings by the Independent Commission Against Corruption between 2012 and 2014 into the conduct of Obeid and others found that Obeid acted in a corrupt manner in relation to cafe leases at Circular Quay and that he misused his position as a Member of Parliament to benefit his family's financial interests in both Direct Health Solutions and in water licences over the family's Bylong Valley farm. In June 2014, the Commission recommended the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consider prosecuting Obeid for the offence of misconduct in public office over his attempts to influence bureaucrats and Labor colleagues to benefit his family.[8][9][10] In 2013, the DPP announced that it would be prosecuting Obeid for misconduct in public office,[11][12] and a criminal trial in the Supreme Court of New South Wales began in February 2016. Obeid pleaded not guilty;[13] however, a jury found Obeid guilty of misconduct in public office. He was sentenced to five years in jail with a non-parole period of three years.[14][15][16][17][18][19] In separate proceedings, Obeid, together with one of his sons, Moses, and former Labor minister, Ian Macdonald, were charged with conspiracy for Macdonald to conduct misconduct in public office and grant a mining lease over the Obeid’s family farm at Bylong. In July 2021, all three were found guilty; and on 21 October Obeid was sentenced to seven years in gaol, with a non-parole period of five years and three months. Obeid, Moses Obeid, and Macdonald, lodged an appeal against their conviction, which was dismissed in October 2023.[20]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
expellwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Obeid attacked as he exits NSW politics". ABC News. Australia. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- ^ Totaro, Paula; Wainwright, Robert (25 February 2003). "Dump the Left, and Eddie Obeid will see you right". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 May 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "Fairfield - New South Wales Legislative Assembly Election 2007". Crikey.com.au. Australia. 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
DTquitwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "New Labor faces decided for NSW Parliament". ABC News. Australia. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ^ "Labor votes two MPs to NSW Upper House". Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ^ McClymont, Kate; Whitbourn, Michaela (5 June 2014). "ICAC: The verdict on Eddie Obeid". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Coultan, Mark (5 June 2014). "ICAC finds Eddie Obeid, Joe Tripodi, Steve Dunn corrupt over series of deals". The Australian. AAP. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Wells, Jamelle (5 June 2014). "ICAC finds Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi corrupt over retail leases at Sydney's Circular Quay". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
SMHprosecutionwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
ABCprosecutionwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Whitbourn, Michaela (10 February 2016). "Former NSW Labor minister Eddie Obeid's criminal trial begins". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ Whitbourn, Michaela (15 December 2016). "Eddie Obeid jailed for misconduct over Circular Quay business deals". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ Whitbourn, Michaela (15 December 2016). "Eddie Obeid jailed for 5 years". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ Carter, Lucy; Calderwood, Kathleen (15 December 2016). "Eddie Obeid sentenced to five years' jail for misconduct in public office". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ Gerathy, Sarah (15 December 2016). "Eddie Obeid: The rise, reign and recession of NSW's most notorious political powerbroker". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ Mayers, Liz (14 December 2019). "Eddie Obeid leaves Silverwater jail after spending three years behind bars". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ Bonyhady, Nick (14 December 2019). "Eddie Obeid released from Silverwater jail, but facing new trial". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ "Corrupt ex-Labor minister Eddie Obeid to remain behind bars after appeal fails". www.9news.com.au. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.