Cr George's new job at Metgasco

Richmond Valley Councillor Stuart George has taken up a position with gas company Metgasco as a land administration officer.

A statement from Metgasco said, "Stuart was employed on his own merits and will be continuing our company policy of openness and transparency in dealing with farmers."

Mr George is the son of Lismore MP Thomas George and also has a position on the Rous Water council.

He told The Echo he would remain a councillor and absent himself from any deliberations by Richmond Valley Council or Rous Water concerning Metgasco.

But it was brought to our attention this week that on October 19 at a Rous Water council meeting, a motion was passed to formally support Tony Windsor's private members bill to increase Commonwealth powers in relation to the CSG industry. The motion called for Rous Water to lobby all federal parliamentarians by writing a letter asking them to support the bill and "safeguard our water resources from contamination from mining practices". The motion was passed, but Crs George, Sullivan and Johnson voted against the motion.

Keerrong resident Ian Gaillard said there is an obvious conflict of interest in Mr George holding a position at Metgasco and being on the councils.

"It's not a surprise given that he has driven Richmond Valley Council to support the CSG industry and Metgasco in particular. But now that he's working for them it shows total collusion," he said. "But if you look at the state and federal situation, there are so many political figures now working for CSG companies including John Anderson, Mark Vale and Richard Shields, who was the Liberal Party deputy state director and is now working as a lobbyist for Metgasco. So it's no surprise. Stuart George is just part of that nexus."

Mr Gaillard said Mr George had a duty to resign from his council positions.

"What does he think he's doing? He's a public figure working for Metgasco and at Rous he is voting against measures that will protect our water. It shows him to be a total hypocrite. He should resign immediately from both Rous and Richmond Valley Council because there is a conflict of interest."

Stuart George did not return The Echo's calls but released a statement saying that he objected to Tony Windsor's bill because "he (Mr Windsor) wants to take responsibility for water away from the people of NSW and give it to Canberra".

Metgasco CEO Peter Henderson also released a statement saying: "The decision by Stuart George at a Rous Water meeting on 19 October 2011 was made before Stuart had accepted the role at Metgasco. I am confident that Stuart's employment with Metgasco will not interfere with his current civic responsibilities."