Teal MP Faces Corruption Probe Over Alleged Lobbying for Billionaire Donor

Prominent independent “teal” MP Zoe Daniel has been referred to the National Anti Corruption Commission over allegations she lobbied a media outlet on behalf of one of her wealthy supporters, billionaire renewables campaigner Simon Holmes à Court. The complaint was laid by former Liberal MP and New South Wales (NSW) party president Jason Falinski, who alleges that staff working for Daniel asked the Australian Financial Review (AFR) to delete Holmes à Court’s name from the “covert” section of its annual list of influential Australians. The listing was based on the newspaper’s editorial judgement and its coverage of his political activities. If the allegation against Daniel are proven, “then there has been a misuse of taxpayer-funded resources, specifically involving Ms. Daniel’s staff, who are alleged to have been engaged in lobbying efforts on behalf of her donors,” Falsinki’s letter to the Commission said....