THE state Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, who has been dubbed Sir Lunchalot over the wine council controversy, has been accused of doing more favours for mates after he approved a coal mining exploration licence for a mine run by a former union boss, John Maitland.
Mr Macdonald is also potentially facing a Land and Environment Court case over a separate coal mine exploration approval granted to BHP Billiton in 2006 in the Liverpool Plains near Gunnedah.
The minister is already under pressure over allegations he racked up a bill of nearly $150,000 for a wine industry and research council chaired by his close mate Greg Jones, and revelations he oversees 58 committees, some featuring Labor-connected appointees.
But he has also annoyed locals in the Hunter by approving an exploration licence for the Doyle's Creek mine, which Mr Maitland, a former president of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, is involved with.
Mr Macdonald announced the mine by media release on Christmas Eve, and has been accused of not following Department of Primary Industry guidelines by approving an exploration licence without the company advertising its intention to apply for the licence.
Approval of the licence came in the Government Gazette on December 15; the minister's media release was issued on December 24; and after protests from residents, the licence was finally advertised in the local press on January 8 and 9.
Craig Chapman, a community representative at the site of the proposed mine, Jerrys Plain, said it was clear the mine had been treated differently to others and he was sceptical of Mr Macdonald and Mr Maitland's claims that the mine was simply for "training" mine workers.
"This is being promoted as a training mine … this is a mining mine," he said.
"It's also publicly noted they plan to pull some 200 million tonnes of coal. The DPI website, their own published rules don't seem to apply in this case."
Mr Macdonald defended his association with Mr Maitland, whom he had previously appointed chairman of the NSW Coal Competence Board on a $20,000 a year stipend.
He said: "I have met John Maitland several times in a professional capacity over the last few years and I can assure you he is an industry leader and expert in his field.
"His involvement is a minor factor. The key element is the strength of this proposal that was developed over a couple of years with the department; a proposal that has gained considerable support from industry and education sectors alike."
Mr Macdonald listed the backers for the mine, including mining companies, and said that if established it had the potential to improve mine safety across Australia.
The application was "no different to any other application for exploration", he said.
"There were absolutely no concessions given. The company has been involved in lengthy negotiations with the Department of Primary Industries for several years now.
"In terms of an exploration licence, currently there is no legal requirement for applications to be advertised, although the Department of Primary Industries encourages applicants to do so.
"This is being reviewed at the moment to legally require advertising. However, the licence was publicised by a media release in December 2008."
A spokesman for Doyle's Creek Mining Company said: "It's a training mine and established according to due process. Suggestions it's a special deal are wrong."
In the Liverpool plains, farmers who have maintained a blockade against coal exploration for a year are trying to launch a case in the NSW Land and Environment Court that will allege Mr Macdonald approved the exploration licence without meeting all the criteria of a standard environmental assessment.
The Acting Opposition Leader, Andrew Stoner, said the Premier, Nathan Rees, should sack Mr Macdonald. "For too long Ian Macdonald has been allowed to get away with whatever he likes. He is a repeat offender when it comes to feathering his own nest at the expense of taxpayers and looking after his mates. There will be more questions to come over the suitability of Ian Macdonald."
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