By court reporter Jamelle Wells and staff
Updated
A major corruption hearing involving former New South Wales Labor ministers and premiers begins in Sydney today.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating allegations against former ministers Eddie Obeid and Ian MacDonald, as well as former treasurer Eric Roozendaal, who is still an MP.
It will first investigate allegations Mr Obeid's family gave a car to Mr Roozendaal while he was roads minister in 2007.
ICAC will also look at the purchase of land in Bylong Valley by Mr Obeid's family before Mr MacDonald granted coal exploration rights when he was mining minister.
The hearing will also look at how four Hunter Valley mining licences were issued.
Former premiers Kristina Keneally, Morris Iemma, and Nathan Rees will give evidence.
The hearing is expected to run for several months.
Meanwhile the State's Greens will refer Liberal backbencher Scot Macdonald to the independent corruption watchdog over claims he received gifts from a coal seam gas company.
Jeremy Buckingham says the disclosure of pecuniary interests shows Mr Macdonald was given flights and accommodation from CSG company Santos.
He says the MP accepted the gifts while he was serving on an inquiry into the safety of coal seam gas.
"He was flown to Tasmania, he attended a conference where he was boosting for the coal seam gas industry while he was having his trip paid for by them," he said
"We think that's outrageous, we think it's a breach of the code of conduct, we think the stink that emanated from the former Labor government when it came to mining and gas is now infecting the O'Farrell Government."
The State Government has declined to comment on the allegations.
Topics: political-parties, government-and-politics, corruption, law-crime-and-justice, state-parliament, states-and-territories, sydney-2000, nsw, australia
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