Eddie Obeid Credit:Daniel Munoz The watchdog found Mr Tripodi was "doing Mr Obeid's bidding" in backing attempts by AWH to enter into a lucrative public-private partnership with the state government in 2010. Similarly, "Mr Kelly was knowingly and improperly acting in accordance with what he understood to be the wishes of Edward Obeid Sr," the report said. In a statement, Obeid "strenuously" denied wrongdoing and his family "[reserved] their rights" in relation to the conduct of the inquiry and the contents of the report. The ICAC found the Obeid family agreed in 2010 to buy a secret $3 million stake in AWH, despite their claims the money was advanced as a loan.

Former Labor powerbroker Joe Tripodi arriving at ICAC during the public hearings Credit:Rob Homer Representations made in legal documents suggesting the money was a loan were "false and were known to be false" by AWH's former chief executive and chairman, Nick Di Girolamo, the report said. A string of witnesses who appeared before the ICAC, including Mr Di Girolamo, did not face adverse findings. Former state Labor minister Tony Kelly arriving at ICAC Credit:Rob Homer Notably, the commission did not make any corruption findings about expenses allegedly charged by AWH to Sydney Water.

It found there was "no documentary evidence" that a range of expenses including a $72,000 donation to the NSW Liberal Party and $28,000 for chauffer-driven limousines were passed on to Sydney Water. Senator Arthur Sinodinos is a former finance director and treasurer of the NSW Liberal Party. Credit:Rob Homer The inquiry heard AWH was lobbying the state government for a lucrative public-private partnership to deliver water infrastructure in Sydney's growing north-west. An initial cabinet minute prepared by the Department of Premier and Cabinet had recommended the proposal be rejected on a number of grounds, including that it would not provide value for money for the state. The commission found Mr Kelly, Mr Brown and Mr Tripodi misused their public office with the intention of benefiting Obeid by preparing a "deceptive" cabinet minute in 2010 to support the AWH proposal.

There was "no evidence" Obeid "directly assisted" in drafting the minute but he was aware it was prepared for the "improper purpose" of favouring his interests, the report said. The ICAC also found Obeid acted corruptly by lobbying his ministerial colleagues Michael Costa, Nathan Rees, Morris Iemma, Phillip Costa and Kristina Keneally to advance the interests of AWH between 2007 and 2010. It recommended the DPP consider charging all four men with misconduct in public office. Former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell famously resigned after his evidence that he did not receive a $3000 bottle of wine from Mr Di Girolamo was contradicted by a handwritten note. The ICAC accepted he had no recollection of the gift and said it was "satisfied that there was no intention on Mr O'Farrell's part to mislead the Commission".

The report also noted there had been an intention to make an adverse finding against another person, whose identity was not disclosed. However, the High Court findings in Crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen SC's successful challenge to the watchdog's powers in 2015 "fundamentally affected significant aspects of Operation Credo," the report said. Obeid senior and his middle son Moses have been charged over an alleged $30 million coal deal involving the family's rural property at Mount Penny in the Bylong Valley near Mudgee. A trial date has not yet been set. The Obeid family patriarch is already serving a maximum five-year prison sentence over his secret business dealings at Circular Quay. The Court of Criminal Appeal has yet to release its decision in Obeid snr's appeal against his conviction and sentence. The ICAC said it did not consider releasing the report at this time would prejudice the Obeids' right to a fair trial because "such a trial will not occur for some time".