Ian Macdonald (New South Wales politician)

Ian Macdonald
Member of Legislative Council of New South Wales
In office
19 March 1988 – 7 June 2010
Succeeded byLuke Foley
Minister for Primary Industries
In office
3 May 2004 – 17 November 2009
Preceded byTony Kelly
Succeeded bySteve Whan
Minister for State and Regional Development
In office
2 April 2007 – 5 June 2010
Preceded byDavid Campbell
Succeeded byEric Roozendaal
Minister for Major Events
In office
11 March 2010 – 5 June 2010
Succeeded byKevin Greene
Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources
In office
3 August 2005 – 5 June 2010
Preceded byTony Kelly
Succeeded byPaul McLeay
Personal details
Born
Ian Michael Macdonald

(1949-03-07) 7 March 1949 (age 75)
Political partyLabor Party (1972–2013)[1]
SpouseAnita Gylseth[2]
Alma materLa Trobe University

Ian Michael Macdonald (born 7 March 1949) is a former Australian politician and currently undergoing court proceedings and was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1988 to 2010 representing the Labor Party. Between 2003 and 2010, Macdonald held a range of ministerial responsibilities in the Carr, Iemma, Rees, and Keneally ministries.[3] Macdonald, who joined the Labor Party in 1972, had his membership of the party terminated in 2013 for bringing the party into disrepute.[1]

After the Independent Commission Against Corruption found that he acted in a corrupt manner,[4] Macdonald was charged with the offence of misconduct in public office for corruptly issuing lucrative mining licences at Doyles Creek in the Hunter Valley,[5][6] found guilty by a Supreme Court jury in March 2017,[7] and sentenced in June 2017 for a period of ten years, with a minimum custodial period of seven years.[8][9][10] Macdonald appealed against the verdict and, on 25 February 2019, his conviction was quashed by the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal who ordered a retrial. He was granted bail and released from custody on the same day.[2][11][12] In July 2021 Macdonald was found guilty of misconduct in public office on separate charges relating to the granting of a lucrative coal-exploration licence over Cherrydale Park, in the Bylong Valley, owned by the family of Eddie Obeid.[13][14][15]

  1. ^ a b Harvey, Eliza (6 June 2013). "Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald expelled from Labor Party". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b Wells, Jamelle (25 February 2019). "Ian Macdonald wins appeal against misconduct conviction, walks free from prison". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Mr Ian Michael Macdonald (1949- )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference ICAC4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference SMHprosecution was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ABCprosecution was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference ABC guilty was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ McClymont, Kate (3 June 2017). "From pinot to porridge, Ian Macdonald to spend seven years behind bars". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  9. ^ Chettle, Nicole; Stuart, Riley (2 June 2017). "Ian Macdonald jailed for 10 years for misconduct in public office, John Maitland also imprisoned". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  10. ^ Parthridge, Emma (2 June 2017). "Former Labor minister Ian Macdonald sentenced to 10 years for misconduct in public office". The Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  11. ^ Thompson, Angus (25 February 2019). "Ian Macdonald, John Maitland misconduct convictions quashed". The Herald. Newcastle. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  12. ^ Thompson, Angus (25 February 2019). "Ex-NSW Labor minister Ian Macdonald and union friend John Maitland's convictions thrown out". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference SMHverdict2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference ABCverdict2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference GAverdict2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).