The former Labor minister was dressed in his bottle-green prison clothing as he appeared via video from Sydney’s Long Bay jail for his latest court hearing.
The former Labor minister was dressed in his bottle-green prison clothing as he appeared via video from Sydney’s Long Bay jail for his latest court hearing.
By Kate McClymont
February 12, 2025 — 2.41pm
Wearing his bottle-green prison garb, corrupt former Labor minister Eddie Obeid made a brief appearance from Long Bay jail to hear that he will be out of jail before his next trial for misconduct in public office – his third – begins.
Obeid, 81, is due to be released in August, having served three years and 10 months for misconduct in public office in relation to the grant of a coal exploration licence for which his family received a $30 million benefit.
He appeared via an audiovisual link in the Downing Centre’s District Court to hear that he will face a three-week trial on April 28 next year.
“Edward Moses Obeid, it is alleged between 1 July 2007 and 30 August 2010, at Sydney in the state of NSW, you, then holding public office as a member of the Legislative Council did, in the course of an in connection with your public office, wilfully misconduct yourself by using your position to attempt to influence Michael Costa, Nathan Rees, Morris Iemma, Phillip Costa and Kristina Keneally to promote the interests of Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd, without reasonable cause or justification,” said Judge Stephen Hanley, reading the indictment.
“How do you plead?” he was asked. “Not guilty, your honour,” Obeid replied.
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The court had earlier heard that the other two ministers, Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly, who allegedly doctored a cabinet submission to gain favourable treatment for Australian Water Holdings, in which the Obeids held an interest, have been granted separate trials.
Tripodi and Obeid were due to face a joint trial starting in May this year.
But Kelly will be the first to stand trial, with his matter listed to start on September 22. Next will be Tripodi’s on March 9, 2026 and, finally, Obeid’s on April 28, 2026.
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Hitching up the trousers of his suit as he approached the witness box, Tripodi entered a “not guilty” plea to the Australian Water Holdings offence.
He later repeated another “not guilty” plea in relation to the second trial he is facing. Between late 2010 and early 2011, Tripodi, then a state MP, is accused of “wilfully misconduct[ing]” himself by allegedly leaking confidential information to billionaire-turned-bankrupt Nathan Tinkler.
This trial, set down for six weeks, is due to start on May 18, 2026.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of taxation’s case against members of the Obeid family, including Obeid’s wife, Judith, known as Judy, is entering its 11th year. The tax office is targeting the Obeid clan, but not Eddie or his son Moses, for unpaid taxes and penalties in relation to the $30 million from the corrupt coal deal that was distributed to family members.
Moses Obeid, who has since been released, was jailed with his father and former mining minister Ian Macdonald in October 2021. Moses is serving home detention for a further charge of lying to ICAC.
The Obeid tax matter will return to court on 15 April.
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Kate McClymont is chief investigative reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via Twitter or email.
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