Eddie Obeid, Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Friday, when they formally entered not-guilty pleas.
A trial date was set for May 12, 2025 – nearly three years after charges were laid against the men.
They each face one count of misconduct in public office over allegations they deliberately mishandled a major water infrastructure bid between 2009 and 2010.
Obeid allegedly attempted to influence a series of parliamentary colleagues – Michael Costa, Nathan Rees, Morris Iemma, Philip Costa and Kristina Keneally – to promote the interests of a company, Australian Water Holdings.
Tripodi prepared a minute document for the cabinet standing committee on the budget that supported the company’s bid for a public-private partnership, prosecutors allege.
Kelly, who at the time was minister for infrastructure, then signed and authorised the submission of the minute, according to court documents.
The minute allegedly contained information the men either knew to be untrue or had made no appropriate inquiries to confirm its accuracy.
