Premier Chris Minns launches fresh push to go after $30 million from Eddie Obeid's corrupt coal dealNBy Nick DoleTopic:Crime2h ago2 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:20amEddie Obeid (left) leaves the Supreme Court of NSW in Sydney in 2020. (AAP: Joel Carrett)In short:NSW Premier Chris Minns has asked the state's crime commission to pursue the $30 million Eddie Obeid made in a corrupt coal deal.Mr Minns said the government would provide funding and resources to help the effort if required.NSW Crime Commissioner Michael Barnes had previously said the chances of recovering the money were low, saying there's "not $30 million sitting in a pot somewhere".abc.net.au/news/chris-minns-eddie-obeid-coal-deal-money-crime-commission/105258056Link copiedShareShare articleThe NSW premier is offering to bolster the NSW Crime Commission so it can pursue former Labor minister Eddie Obeid over $30 million of "ill-gotten gains".Chris Minns said the government was prepared to boost funding to the commission to ensure Obeid could keep the cash he made from a corrupt coal licence deal."There's acts of big public corruption, someone's made a motza out of it [and] we're going to chase them," Mr Minns said.Last month, the commission decided not to pursue legal proceedings to confiscate Obeid's assets, saying a complex web of trusts and corporations made the cash difficult to trace.It also warned that pursuing the matter could expose the commission to substantial legal costs, diverting resources away from other investigations.Premier Chris Minns said NSW authorities needed to send a message to the community. (ABC News: Courtney Barrett Peters)However, the premier has since written to Commissioner Michael Barnes, asking him to reconsider."We'll provide the resources, the financing or changes to the legislation that he needs to pursue the proceeds of crime," Mr Minns said.It is "just not on" for the former Labor powerbroker to keep the money, he said."If the message goes out in New South Wales that if you've got deep pockets, if you've got the best lawyers, you can outrun the government of the day, [then] I think that'll be a green light to corruption," he said.Third time lucky?The crime commission has twice investigated the viability of confiscating Obeid's assets and on both occasions it's decided not to proceed.In announcing the decision last month, Mr Barnes said no stone had been left unturned.However, he believed the chances of clawing the money back were low, due in part to missing records and the length of time that has elapsed."There is not $30 million sitting in a pot somewhere that we can just go and snaffle," he said in April."The complex web of discretionary trusts used by the Obeid family to mix illegal and legitimate funds means there are an accumulation of serious legal hurdles to overcome."NSW Crime Commissioner Michael Barnes said he believes the chances of clawing the money back were low. (Abc News: Isobel Roe)On Tuesday, the premier said that while he was open to passing new legislation to assist the commission, he did not believe it was required."There [are] already the provisions within the crime commissioner's responsibility to go and say, we think that this is ill-gotten gains," Mr Minns said."It's up to the person who's been accused to show that the money that they've accumulated is not as a result of crime."Opposition says Minns 'playing catch up'When the crime commission announced its decision last month, the government expressed disappointment, but made no mention of any plans to seek a review.Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said it should not have taken the premier so long to act."We called immediately for legislation," he said."The Minns Labor government only acted once it was caught standing still. Token stunts are all they have to offer."The premier said the criticism was unwarranted."We made sure that we looked at [it] very closely and cross examined the reasons … then I made a considered decision in relation to it," he said."Justice doesn't just have to be done, it has to be seen to be done."Posted 2h ago2 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:20am, updated 1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:57amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesErin 'very reluctant' to let lunch guests near pantry, court hearsLIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtNationals deputy leader 'shattered' she will likely lose Senate seatLIVEPhoto shows Perin Davey listens to a press conference by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek at Parliament HouseCould Labor's thumping election win put tax reform back on the agenda?Topic:TaxPhoto shows A man sitting on a stage wearing a suit and tie.Grandmother in custody as town reels after deaths of two young boysLIVEPhoto shows CoonabarabranGreens' Adam Bandt in danger as seat of Melbourne remains on knife's edgeTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A composite photo of a brunette woman, brown haired man with glasses, blonde woman with glasses and dark haired man.Related storiesJailed former NSW Labor minister to keep $30m from corrupt coal dealTopic:CourtsPhoto shows Eddie Obeid arrives at court to be sentenced for misconduct in public officeNSW Labor candidate cleared of corruption allegations aired in parliamentTopic:State and Territory ParliamentPhoto shows Khal AsfourDisgraced former Labor minister Eddie Obeid enters prison to begin sentence over coal mine conspiracyTopic:CourtsPhoto shows a man in a surgical mask walking outRelated topicsAnti Corruption AgenciesCorruptionCrimeNewcastleSydneyTop StoriesErin 'very reluctant' to let lunch guests near pantry, court hearsTopic:Law, Crime and JusticePhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtNationals deputy leader 'shattered' she will likely lose Senate seatTopic:ElectionsCould Labor's thumping election win put tax reform back on the agenda?Topic:TaxGrandmother in custody as town reels after deaths of two young boysTopic:CrimeGreens' Adam Bandt in danger as seat of Melbourne remains on knife's edgeTopic:ElectionsJust InSeven West Media to buy Tasmania's Channel 7 and other Southern Cross TV assetsTopic:Media Industry11m ago11 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 4:12amLocals torch WA council's 'silly' blanket ban on fire pitsTopic:Local Government23m ago23 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 4:00amMushroom meal survivor takes the stand in Erin Patterson's trialTopic:Law, Crime and Justice19m ago19 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 4:03am'I could have been a Steve Irwin': Woman barbed by stingray near artery in armTopic:Marine Incidents53m ago53 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 3:30amMore Just InBack to top