Angela D'Amore

Angela D'Amore (born 10 October 1971), a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the electorate of Drummoyne from 2003 until 2011.

Following findings of corrupt conduct by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), on 7 December 2010, D'Amore was sacked as Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Minister for Police and Assisting the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment.^[1][2] Following a legal challenge of the ICAC ruling, a judicial review dismissed D'Amore's case, ordering her to pay ICAC's costs. D'Amore has not been charged with any criminal offence.^[3]

Background and early years

D’Amore is the daughter of immigrants, who migrated from Graniti in Sicily, Italy in 1964. She was educated at Bethlehem College, Ashfield and the University of Sydney and was an officer for the Municipal Employees Union and the NSW Nurses’ Association.^[4] D'Amore lives at Rodd Point, with her husband Richard and two sons, Favian and Julian.^[5] Labor powerbroker, Joe Tripodi, is related by marriage to D'Amore,^[6] although, it is widely reported that they do not share a good relationship.^[7]

New South Wales state politics

D'Amore was elected at the 2003 NSW general election.^[8] In March 2010, D'Amore was appointed Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Minister for Police and Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Minister for Climate Change and Environment in the Kristina Keneally Labor government.

D'Amore's previous parliamentary experience includes:^[9]

• Chair of the Committee on the Office of the Ombudsman and Police Integrity Commission. 2007 - 2008
• Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Women’s Representative for Australia
• Deputy Chair of Committee of the International Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Women’s Steering

D'Amore proposed major infrastructure changes in the area, such as the M4 east and Iron Cove Bridge widening.^{[citation needed]}. It was claimed that the widening would complement D'Amore's announcement of securing 400 new bus services in March 2010. The M4 East extension is aimed at channelling traffic underground, easing pressure on surface roads, to get Sydney buses running on time effectively and efficiently. D'Amore has noted that the tunnel would be a major public transport outcome for the Inner West.^[10]

Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation

On 22 September 2010, it was revealed that D'Amore was under investigation by ICAC for misuse of parliamentary allowances between 2006 and 2007.^[6][11] She stated that she did not gain any personal financial benefit,^[12] and during the hearing, denied knowing the claim forms were false when she signed them.^[13][14] Further, D'Amore claimed that she did not receive appropriate training in understanding the forms on which she signed off.^[15] Appearing before the Commission, a former staff member, Karen Harbilas, claimed that D'Amore had instructed her to fill out the forms incorrectly.^[16] A staff member, Agatha La Manna, appearing before the inquiry, admitted to knowingly submitting four false pay claims and lying to investigators.^[13] On 7 December 2010, ICAC found that D'Amore and La Manna engaged in corrupt conduct by falsely claiming sitting day relief payments, and is of the opinion that the advice of the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) should be sought in relation to prosecuting D'Amore for two offences of misconduct in public office.^[17] Former Premier Keneally immediately sacked D'Amore as Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Minister for Police and Assisting the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment and called on the Labor Party to suspend D'Amore's membership.^[18][19] In spite of this however, D'Amore refused to resign from Parliament, and remained a Labor member until the NSW state election in 2011. She claimed that she was "appalled" at the findings and lodged an appeal against the ICAC ruling^[1][20] and made an application for the taxpayers of New South Wales to pay her costs in the ICAC hearing.^[21] On 14 May 2012, Peter McClellan, the Chief Justice at Common Law in the Supreme Court dismissed D'Amore's case, ordering her to pay all legal costs. Justice McClellan ruled that:^[3]

The [ICAC] inferred from circumstantial evidence, considered as a whole, that the plaintiff knew of the conditions of the sitting day relief entitlement when she signed the claim forms and instructed her staff in how the forms ought to be completed.

D'Amore did not seek re-election at the 2011 NSW election.^[22] Subsequently, the DPP advised the ICAC that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution of Ms D'Amore. The DPP's advice was accepted by the ICAC.

References