NSW: Tripodi is a coward: Brogden

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2004
NSW: Tripodi is a coward: Brogden

SYDNEY, Aug 31 AAP - NSW opposition leader John Brogden today branded Sydney MP Joe
Tripodi a coward over the closure of the Orange Grove shopping complex.

Mr Brogden told reporters the Labor MP for Fairfield in Sydney's south west had abandoned
the Orange Grove workers and was hiding from scrutiny.

He said Mr Tripodi had "succumbed to pressure from above" and had not been upfront
about his role in a government decision not to re-zone a Liverpool area so that the factory
outlet could continue to function.

Mr Tripodi released a statement yesterday denying he told Orange Grove owner Nabil
Gazal at a meeting in May that NSW Premier Bob Carr had ordered Assistant Planning Minister
Diane Beamer - as a favour to Westfield boss Frank Lowy - not to rezone the centre.

The Westfield retail giant operates a rival shopping complex nearby.

Mr Tripodi said fear of prejudicing a possible corruption inquiry by the Independent
Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) prevented him commenting further.

Mr Brogden said that was a clever tactic, but it would not wash.

"It's a very convenient shield for Joe Tripodi to create to hide behind," he said.

"That's a very clever tactic, but it's not right and it certainly doesn't wash."

Mr Brogden said Mr Tripodi had abandoned the 450 workers of Orange Grove, who finished
at the outlet last week after the courts shut the centre down.

"Now, Joe Tripodi joins the long queue of Labor people who have chosen Westfield over
the workers out at Orange Grove," he said.

"Joe Tripodi is up to his neck in the scandal surrounding Orange Grove. Joe Tripodi is a coward."

Premier Bob Carr today denied Mr Tripodi had been gagged over the affair.

"There's no attempt to gag - that's an extraordinary suggestion. The government has
not gagged him," Mr Carr said.

The Orange Grove closure is the subject of an ongoing Upper House parliamentary inquiry,
which is investigating whether the state government was unduly influenced by Westfield
in its decision not to rezone the area in Liverpool.

Mr Carr was expected to make a statement to the parliament this afternoon.

AAP shh/jel/it/jlw

KEYWORD: FACTORY TRIPODI BROGDEN

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