Ex-minister wants separate corruption trial to Obeid

Three former NSW Labor ministers facing long-standing corruption allegations will be judged by separate juries in a series of "document heavy" trials running into mid-2026.

Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi both pleaded not guilty to the allegations when they faced Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday.

Their co-accused, former state infrastructure minister Tony Kelly, did not appear but previously pleaded not guilty.

The three men each face one count of misconduct in public office over allegations they deliberately mishandled a major water infrastructure bid between 2009 and 2010.

Prosecutors allege the men misused their roles as members of parliament to assist Australian Water Holdings to enter into a public-private partnership with the NSW government.

Tripodi's request to stand trial separate to Obeid was not opposed by prosecutors and was granted by Judge Stephen Hanley, who vacated a joint trial due to start in May.

Prosecutors asked for the trials to be run in succession with three-week intervals in between, with the court setting dates beginning with Kelly in September and finally Obeid in April 2026.

"The trial will be document heavy," prosecutor Elodie Somerville said.

"We are hopeful there will be some agreed facts."

Obeid is accused of attempting to influence his senior parliamentary colleagues - Michael Costa, Nathan Rees, Morris Iemma, Philip Costa and Kristina Keneally - to promote Australian Water Holdings' interests.

Tripodi allegedly prepared a minute document for the cabinet standing committee on the budget, which supported the company's bid for a public-private partnership.

Kelly, who at the time was minister for infrastructure, then signed and authorised the submission of the minute, according to court documents.

The minute allegedly contained information the men either knew to be untrue or had made no appropriate inquiries to verify.