Former premier Bob Carr’s case hit with conflict claim in legal battle with builder
The Ex-NSW Premier’s legal battle with the builder who claims he owes them $220,000 for renovating his apartment has hit a snag, plus police are investigating footage of a masked gunman confronting Nasser Kalache. The Snitch is here.
Ex-NSW Premier Bob Carr’s legal battle with the builder who claims he owes them $220,000 for renovating his luxury Eastern Suburbs apartment has hit a snag.
It turns out a 10-year stint as premier comes with the perception of some lasting influence.
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal - where the case is set to be heard - well, Carr was responsible for setting it up.
Oh, and a handful of the judicial officers (known as members) who decide the cases - yeah, he gave them jobs and they still work there.
The ex-premier had even been emailing one of the members for tips on how to approach his case against Jelco Project Management, the Tribunal was told.
Lawyers for Jelco - who were the project managers of the renovation of Carr’s $8 million Coogee apartment - reckon it might be a conflict of interest if those members hear the case.
There is absolutely no suggestion of improper behaviour by Mr Carr, only that Jelco’s lawyers raised the potential for there to be the perception of bias.
On Friday, Jelco’s lawyer told the Tribunal that it wanted seven of the Tribunal’s members disqualified from hearing the case.
“He (Carr) appointed each of those members to the position and we are saying there is a…potential for the appearance of bias…,” Jelco’s lawyer told the Tribunal.
Jelco also claimed in the Tribunal that one of the members “has a close personal relationship with Mr Carr”.
They also told the Tribunal that another member had used their work email to send Mr Carr relevant legal precedents and advice on what would be relevant to his case.
After buying the apartment last year, Carr hired Jelco and has argued that he paid the company each time they sent an invoice.
After moving in last year, the ex premier alleges he was sent a $220,000 invoice for a “builders margin” fee that was never discussed and he was not entitled to pay.
After months of back and forth, Jelco took action in the Tribunal.
On Friday, Jelco was given until December 19 to produce its evidence and Mr Carr was given until January 23 to reply with a return date to be set.
BOTCHED HIT ON REAL ESTATE AGENT
Police are investigating terrifying footage that appears to show a botched assassination attempt of a Sydney identity.
It shows former real estate agent and sometimes tow truck driver Nasser Kalache unpacking the boot of his Porsche 4wd outside a home in south west Sydney about 7am on October 2.
Before Kalache has time to react, a blue hatch back stops at the end of his driveway before a masked gunman gets out of the back of the car and points a gun at him.
Kalache flinches and retreats to the side of his car.
We don’t know if the gun malfunctioned, but no shot was fired before the armed man got back in the car and sped off.
The video was uploaded to social media account Sydney Crime Network (SCN) but has since been deleted. Someone then forwarded it to us.
We contacted Kalache, who last year was sentenced to an intensive corrections order for dealing with the proceeds of crime of a scheme involving Covid benefits payments, but he didn’t want to tell us much.
At first he said “that’s old news”.
He then suggested the video was artificial intelligence.
Police confirmed the incident occurred and said investigations were continuing.
“Detectives attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command have commenced an investigation into an incident involving a firearm outside a home in Cecil Hills, about 7am on October 2, 2025,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said.
HOUDA V HANA
High profile lawyer Adam Houda is set to face off against the lawyer who has accused him of sexual harassment on Monday.
The legal battle between Houda and Hana Seraphim is listed for a four-day hearing in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Seraphim claims Houda -- who has acted on cases ranging from terrorists to NRL stars -- sexually harassed her while she was a work experience lawyer in his office.
Houda has strongly denied all of the allegations levelled against him.
