NSW Labor says Coalition minister using family business headquarters as political office ‘doesn’t pass the pub test’

NSW Labor says a Nationals minister has “questions to answer” over the close links between a company he controls and a business linked to his family, whose shared offices are covered in political advertising. 

Regional Roads Minister Sam Farraway divested his interest in the family haulage company Farra Civil in September 2019, days before he was appointed to his upper house seat, by selling his shares to his brother for $100. 

However, the minister has retained his directorship of a different family firm, Warrilee, which shares a principal place of business with Farra Civil, according to corporate records. 

That same Bathurst address has been used by Farraway to “authorise” political messages on Facebook, and Google Maps imagery shows the shopfront is plastered with signs saying “The Nationals for regional NSW” and “Hon. Sam Farraway MLC”. 

The two companies also share a contact address and a co-director. 

“The minister having his ‘mobile electorate office’ sharing the address of his private and family business interests simply doesn’t pass the pub test,” Labor’s upper house leader Penny Sharpe told Crikey.

In response to questions to Farraway’s office, a NSW government spokesperson said: “Minister Farraway has at all times complied with his obligations under the ministerial code of conduct and relevant disclosures.” 

Farraway disclosed his former interest in Farra Civil on his first disclosure form lodged with Parliament after entering the upper house, and has disclosed his current interest in Warrilee as well. 

A briefing note to Premier Dominic Perrottet from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, which was issued in March last year, appears to advise any conflict of interest was unlikely. 

The brief, which was released to Parliament by an order of the upper house, notes Farraway’s former interest in Farra Civil and his ongoing directorship of Warrilee.

“The ministerial code states that the transfer of a shareholding to a family member or to a trust in which the minister or a family member has a beneficial interest does not constitute divestment,” the note says.

“As the minister has not had a shareholding in Farra Civil for over two years — having divested on September 26 2019 — and has disclosed this in the parliamentary returns, DPC does not consider the minister to have a prohibited interest requiring a ruling.”