NSW: Tripodi went "off his head" over ICAC: Bargshoon

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2004
NSW: Tripodi went "off his head" over ICAC: Bargshoon

EDS: ATTENTION TO LANGUAGE PARS 4 AND 6



SYDNEY, Dec 17 AAP - NSW Labor MP Joe Tripodi "went off his head" when he heard the
Orange Grove factory outlet affair would go to the Independent Commission Against Corruption
(ICAC), the commission was told today.

Sam Bargshoon, a contract cleaner for the Liverpool factory outlet who called Mr Tripodi
his "best friend", said the Fairfield MP reacted angrily when Mr Bargshoon telephoned
him to say the matter would be investigated.

"He went off his head," Mr Bargshoon told the commission today.

"He said he doesn't need that - that shit."

According to Mr Bargshoon, also a former ALP member, Mr Tripodi had been angry about
going to ICAC because he had "been through ICAC before".

Mr Tripodi told Mr Bargshoon "he didn't need that s-word, shit, he doesn't need that."

Mr Bargshoon said he told Mr Tripodi in the same phone conversation that his family
would not attend the MP's upcoming wedding.

Mr Bargshoon submitted five photos of himself at social functions with Mr Tripodi,
demonstrating their close relationship.

ICAC is investigating corruption allegations over the Orange Grove factory outlet shopping
centre in Sydney's south-west.

The direct factory outlet was approved by Liverpool Council but was later closed after
appeals from shopping giant Westfield which successfully argued the centre was against
Liverpool Council's regulations.

Mr Tripodi is due to front the commission later today.

AAP bk/kp/lma/sd

KEYWORD: ICAC FACTORY

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.