Emails to The Daily Telegraph reveal Labor official urging Minns to get funding

The Daily Telegraph has reported that emails mistakenly sent to their offices by the Labor Party, ALP Assistant General Secretary David Dobson “repeatedly flagged the funding with representatives of cabinet ministers and the Premier’s office from his party email.”

The emails had been intended only for senior representatives of NSW Premier Chris Minns.

Dobson identified certain federal funding, which was announced by Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain for disaster-ready support.

His email to government officials said: “This is the application process for the Sand Nourishment for Wamberal. I am not sure whose office is responsible for applying.

“I will leave that for you to determine.”

The DT further reports that five days later, Dobson raised the matter again, writing he was, “checking who was taking carriage”.

The masthead confirmed in its reporting that it received the correspondence when it was “mistakenly included in the email chain.”

The thread also included an email from chief of staff for Robertson MP Dr Gordon Reid forwarding the funding “guidelines” to Dobson, after which Dobson sent further emails encouraging seeking of the funding.

Mediaweek has reached out to the Premier's office for comment.

Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane told The DT that it was “alarming to hear government ministers are being directed by Sussex Street to seek taxpayer funding for a project in a marginal seat being targeted by Chris Minns and Labor”.

She added, “Requests for grant funding should be merit based. The ministers named should now explain what action they took as a result of the request.”

Dobson told The DT he “forwarded an email about a publicly advertised grant.”