Joe Tripodi back doing the numbers
Kate McClymont and
Tom Rabe
September 16, 2019 — 12.05am
There was something familiar about the man with the phone clamped to his ear who turned up to Parramatta Leagues Club last Tuesday night to vote against a reform to the club’s constitution. It was former Labor strongman Joe Tripodi.
It appeared Mr Tripodi, who has had three separate corruption findings made against him, was there to do the numbers for a group of present and former local politicians and prominent developers opposed to attempts by the club’s government-appointed administrator to appoint a new board. The group opposes the administrator's desire to progressively vote in fresh board members.
Joe Tripodi enters Parramatta Leagues Club.
One of the key people in Mr Tripodi’s group opposing the proposed measures was Ming Shang of property development company Southern Han. Mr Shang and his company were embroiled in a political scandal last week after the Liberal Party was forced to forfeit an illegal donation he made at a fundraiser for now-embattled NSW Minister John Sidoti, the former mayor of Burwood.
Mr Sidoti and Mr Shang, a developer and banned donor, both hold stakes in a $70 million development in Cudgegong Road in Rouse Hill, where the government plans to build a Metro station.
Mr Sidoti was a parliamentary secretary for planning between October 2014 and March 2015 and parliamentary secretary for transport and roads between August 2015 and January 2017.
Mr Shang made the $1750 donation to Mr Sidoti at a February 2015 Liberal Party dinner. A fortnight earlier Mr Shang and his business partner paid a $20,000 fee to join the exclusive “Premiership club” at the Eels which was operated by John Chedid, who was also a Parramatta Liberal councillor.
On Tuesday night Mr Shang arrived at the club with about 20 Chinese supporters and was seen deep in conversation with Roy Spagnolo, the controversial former chairman of the Parramatta Eels. Mr Spagnolo, also a property developer, was barred from being a member of the club for several years. He and Mr Tripodi monitored activities from the club’s Chinese restaurant as neither was allowed to vote. They haven’t been members for the requisite period of time.
Mr Shang’s business partner in Southern Han, Rustom “Tom” Kudinar-Kwee, also turned up to oppose the reforms.
The
Herald can reveal Mr Kudinar-Kwee has ties to Mr Chedid, who in 2015 and 2016 was on Parramatta council at the same time he was being paid $150,000 by the Eels to run government relations and their “Premiership Club” – which was taken up mainly by local developers including Payce and Southern Han.
Ming Shang talking to Roy Spagnolo at the club's Chinese restaurant.
“It’s an honour to have you with us,” wrote Mr Chedid to Mr Kudinar-Kwee on February 10, 2015, after being informed Southern Han was forking out $20,000 for membership of the Premiership Club. Later that year, Mr Kudinar-Kwee emailed Mr Chedid with concerns he had about the council’s actions on his Hunter Street development.
In February 2016 emails show Mr Chedid, through his position with the Eels, organised a trip to New Zealand for the Auckland Nines tournament with Mr Kudinar-Kwee and another member of the Premiership club, developer Danny Fayad.
Mr Kudinar-Kwee was emailing Mr Chedid about his Parramatta development both before and after that trip.
In April 2016, Mr Kudinar-Kwee again emailed Mr Chedid personally about his development in Hunter Street.
“This might come to council meeting soon. Your consideration is very much appreciated and should you need further info please let me know. Thank you Tom.”
Mr Chedid replied he was “happy to look into it” but “Pls next time use my gmail [which he provided]. God bless you,” he wrote.
Mr Chedid lost his position at the club at the end of July 2016 with the arrival of administrator Max Donnelly, who was appointed by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority to run the Eels.
The perceived conflict between Mr Chedid’s Eels job and his role as councillor had been raised previously when he tried to get the council to pay Eels players Tim Mannah, Will Hopoate and Nathan Peats $75,000 each to act as city ambassadors. Also supporting this was another Parramatta councillor Paul Garrard, who was at the same time on the Eels board. The two councillors declared an interest and did not discuss the proposal when it came before council in July 2015. The plan was rejected due to concerns it could be seen an attempt to subvert the NRL’s salary cap.
Roy Spagnolo, the former Eels chairman.CREDIT:SIMON ALEKNA
On Tuesday night the block led by Mr Spagnolo, the Southern Han group, Cumberland councillor and former Parramatta lord mayor Mr Garrard, as well Tony Labbozzetta, former head of the Marconi Club, was successful in opposing Mr Donnelly’s planned reforms. Mr Donnelly needed 75 per cent of those present on the night to vote for the changes. He received 73.5 per cent.
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