Eddie Obeid

Edward (“Eddie”) Moses Obeid (born 25 October 1943), a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council who served between 1991 and 2011, representing the Australian Labor Party. He was the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for Mineral Resources from 1999–2003. Prior to the March 2015 expiry of his term in the Legislative Council, Obeid announced his decision to retire early on 10 May 2011, citing family reasons.

During his parliamentary career, Obeid was considered by many a powerbroker in the New South Wales Labor Party, belonging to the dominant Labor Unity faction, often referred to as The Terrigals, so named as its inaugural meeting was held at Obeid's beach house in Terrigal, New South Wales. It was reported that Obeid might retire at the New South Wales state election in 2011, prior to the expiry of his term,

however he waited until the election was concluded.

Eddie Obied and coal
In 2011 Sydney Morning Herald reporter Kate McClymont reported that in 2008 that less than a year after the Obeid family "purchased a prime cattle-grazing property in the Bylong Valley near Mudgee for $3.65 million, the then minerals minister Ian Macdonald granted a licence to explore for coal in the area surrounding the Obeid's farm. One of the companies Mr Macdonald's department invited to tender for exploration licences was run by Mr Kaidbay and Mr Brook." McClymont reported that a majority of shares in Kaidbay and Brook's company were held by Equitexx, "a nominee company run by the Obeids's long-time accountant Sid Sassine."

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Australia and coal

External articles

 * Linton Besser and Kate McClymont, "Exposed: Obeids' secret harbour deal", ''Sydney Morning Herald, May 19, 2012.
 * Linton Besser and Kate McClymont, "Obeid family's harbour leases sent to ICAC", Sydney Morning Herald, May 20, 2012.
 * Kate McClymont and Linton Besser, "Obeid family and friends reap millions from lucrative coal licences", Sydney Morning Herald, May 21, 2012.
 * Joanne Mccarthy, "Obeid family looked at land on coal lease", Sydney Morning Herald, May 22, 2012.
 * Linton Besser and Kate McClymont, "Obeid family's harbour leases sent to ICAC", Sydney Morning Herald, May 20, 2012.
 * Independent Commission Against Corruption, "Operation Jarilo investigation report on hold pending further investigation", Media Release, May 23, 2012.
 * Kate McClymont, "Fresh allegations against Ian Macdonald", Sydney Morning Herald, May 23, 2012.
 * Heath Aston and Jim O'Rourke, "Former Labor powerbroker Obeid in hospital after suspected stroke", Sydney Morning Herald, May 27, 2012.
 * Stephanie Gardiner, "Hospital tests for Obeid", Sydney Morning Herald, May 28, 2012.