It seems that the former Member for Clarence Steve Cansdell is not the only NSW North Coast National Party MP who fell afoul of the rules and lost his seat.
Here is mention of the former NSW Minister for Administrative Services and former member for Coffs Harbour, Matt Singleton, who was previously the Member for Clarence from February 1971 to August 1981.
That makes two out of the last four Nationals MPs representing Clarence coming to a sticky political end.
Mr CARR: …… But I have done the National Party a great disservice, because the coalition had barely been elected to government and ICAC had not even begun its work on the north coast land deals when Matt Singleton was sacked overnight by Greiner. Matt Singleton had a great deal going. He was busily promoting to his Minister the rezoning of a nice little territory in his electorate. But he forgot to declare that he owned the property - a pretty big thing to overlook…
Dr REFSHAUGE: …… The most grave of these omissions was that of the former Minister, Matt Singleton, whose failure to declare shareholdings in finance and property development companies was brought to light. The Deputy Premier also had failed to declare shareholdings in Matt Singleton's company, STR Finance. Mr Singleton not only failed to include shareholdings in a declaration to the Parliament; he completely ignored the former Premier's demand for a separate pecuniary interest file exclusive to him. Mr Singleton's indiscretion did not end there. He was found to be lobbying a ministerial colleague to have land rezoned for development. If the rezoning had occurred, Mr Singleton would have benefited substantially. It took Opposition pressure to have this disgraced Minister forced from office. This is the cleanskin Government. Matt Singleton, within a year of the Government coming to office, was forced to resign because he lacked the probity and the propriety to perform his ministerial responsibilities appropriately.
2 comments:
Will Gulaptis go on to make in 3 out of 4?
3 out of 4!
What on earth are you saying, Anonymous?
Looking at recent history in the electorate of Clarence (let's say since 1971 when Country Party's MP for Clarence Matt Singleton - who departed parliament in disgrace with his tail between his legs)that coalition MPs have all been 100% tip-top, AOK, best thing since sliced bread?
Apart from Singleton and Cansdell, another coalition MP has represented Clarence since 1971; that was the Hon {sic} Ian Causley.
Anonymous, are you trying to tell readers The Bull was alright?
Anonymous, I suspect you've been listening to Meatloaf and his song '2 out of 3 ain't bad' too often.
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