THE NSW corruption watchdog will delay a verdict on the alleged conduct of former Labor MP Ian Macdonald while fresh allegations are investigated.
It's been claimed that property tycoon Ron Medich arranged for Mr Macdonald - then the NSW energy minister - to spend time with a prostitute as a reward for setting up meetings with executives from Country Energy and Energy Australia.
In a statement yesterday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said it would delay its findings.
"The commission has not yet decided whether corrupt conduct as alleged has been established," the statement said.
In December last year, a second set of allegations was put to ICAC involving Mr Macdonald's granting of an exploration licence in the Hunter Valley to mining company NuCoal Resources.
The move was prompted by a report to the state government that raised questions about the tender process.
Mr Macdonald announced the approval of the Doyles Creek licence in December 2008 after inviting only the former national secretary of the CFMEU, John Maitland, to tender.
Doyles Creek Mining Pty Ltd was chaired by Mr Maitland, who also held an 11 per cent share in the company. NuCoal bought Doyles Creek Mining in February 2010.
ICAC yesterday said that after investigating the allegations it believed a public inquiry was necessary, and because of the similarities between the two matters involving Mr Macdonald it was "in the public interest" to hand down the findings together.
Mr Macdonald, who has previously held posts including energy minister and state development minister, was suspended from the NSW Labor Party in December last year.
The party has said it will reconsider Mr Macdonald's membership pending the outcome of the investigation by ICAC.
Mr Macdonald quit parliament in disgrace in June 2010 over claims he rorted his expenses on a 2008 trip to Dubai, in the Middle East.
