It was the $1800 dinner at Rose Bay’s Catalina restaurant that marked a new life for Ian Macdonald’s good mate – and his own daughter.

Former union boss John Maitland organised a job in China for the daughter of the former resources minister Ian Macdonald after she attended a lavish dinner at which Mr Macdonald issued a lucrative coal licence to Mr Maitland.

Dinner at Catalina: John Maitland. Credit:Peter Braig

Sasha Macdonald went on to secure a new job with one of Mr Maitland's contacts in 2009 after the licence was awarded - without a tender and contrary to departmental advice - at an $1800 dinner at the up-market restaurant, Catalina, in Rose Bay, in late 2008.

The licence enabled Mr Maitland's company to go on to be floated on the stock exchange, which transformed Mr Maitland's $166,000 stake in Doyles Creek Mining into a share package worth as much as $15 million.