His Honour Solomon J, has commented that corruption in NSW “must be overcome”. The judge has dismissed an appeal by a Wollongong developer, Glen Tabak, convicted of lying to the corruption watchdog.

“The community must be told loudly and clearly that corruption in this state is a problem and must be overcome,” Judge Ronald Solomon said in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court today.
In July, developer Glen Tabak pleaded guilty at the Downing Centre Local Court to making a false statement to the Independent Commission Against Corruption in a document dated June 2007. In that statement, Tabak denied being in a relationship with Wollongong City Council employee Beth Morgan, who was involved in the council’s construction approval process.

“Persons who deal with ICAC must be full and frank with their disclosures, so deterrence is of great importance when it comes to these matters,” Judge Solomon said.

Tabak declined to comment to reporters outside court. The incident has highlighted the depth of the problem of corruption in New South Wales. The trust of ordinary people in the system is likely to sink to endemic lows as news of this incident reaches the community in general. The judge was, however, determined to sent a message that corruption and lying will not be tolerated by the legal system and that people who do this will pay the price for their actions. However, a fine of $2500.00 does not seem sufficient to account for the development profits which could have been reaped from the ability to sway the council through graft and corruption such as this. It leaves much doubt as to how government operates in a broader sense. Tabak had connections to senior people in the political process and other areas of government. It is unknown what other decisions may have been influenced by these nefarious dealings.