ICAC told of pamphlet smear campaign led by Labor MPs

Former Labor heavyweights Joe Tripodi and Eric Roozendaal have been dragged back into the corruption inquiry over allegations they plotted to bring down one of their own colleagues in the state election.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has been told that Mr Tripodi organised and even designed a pamphlet smearing former Newcastle MP Jodi McKay.

Weeks out of the 2011 state election, local printer and close friend of Mr Tripodi, Vincent Fedele, was allegedly hired to print flyers aimed at sabotaging Ms McKay's campaign to retain the seat of Newcastle.

Mr Fedele told the commission Mr Tripodi even helped in the design the pamphlet.

He said police and the media were soon asking him questions about the anonymous smear campaign and he complained to Mr Tripodi who told him: “keep me out of it.”

It's been alleged Nathan Tinkler funded the smear campaign to oust Ms McKay because she was against his plans to build a coal terminal.

The inquiry heard the billionaire had some high-powered supporters including former treasurer and Ports Minister Eric Roozendaal.

The commission heard that Mr Roozendaal was allegedly planning to take over the decision-making if the boss of Newcastle Ports Garry Webb “refused to roll over.”