John Robertson's adviser Ian McNamara returns to work after ICAC appearance

By Sean Nicholls
Updated September 17 2014 - 1:08am, first published 12:15am
Ian McNamara leaving the Independent Commission Against Corruption on September 1, 2014. Photo: Daniel Munoz/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
Ian McNamara leaving the Independent Commission Against Corruption on September 1, 2014. Photo: Daniel Munoz/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
Ian McNamara leaving the Independent Commission Against Corruption on September 1, 2014. Photo: Daniel Munoz/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
Ian McNamara leaving the Independent Commission Against Corruption on September 1, 2014. Photo: Daniel Munoz/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
Ian McNamara leaving the Independent Commission Against Corruption on September 1, 2014. Photo: Daniel Munoz/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
Ian McNamara leaving the Independent Commission Against Corruption on September 1, 2014. Photo: Daniel Munoz/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Opposition Leader John Robertson's chief of staff, Ian McNamara, has returned to work a month after standing aside while he gave evidence to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Mr McNamara stood aside from the role voluntarily shortly before he appeared at the commission to answer questions about a dirty tricks campaign against sitting Labor MP for Newcastle Jodi McKay before the 2011 state election.

Ms McKay, who lost the seat, opposed development of a $1 billion coal loader in Newcastle being pushed by mining magnate Nathan Tinkler.

The ICAC heard that former Labor minister Joe Tripodi covertly helped conduct a campaign against her and may have passed on a confidential Treasury document – part of which was critical of a rival plan for a container terminal – to a Tinkler executive. Mr Tripodi denies this.

Mr McNamara, at that time an adviser to then premier Kristina Keneally, told the ICAC he was given a copy of the Treasury report "to file" but denied passing it on.

The ALP made the decision to reinstate him after receiving legal advice that there was no basis for adverse findings.

This was because Mr McNamara was not a person of interest, cooperated fully as a witness whose evidence was not subject to adverse criticism, including from counsel assisting, Geoffrey Watson, SC, and no adverse propositions were put to him.

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