Eddie the Octopus' tentacles had a long reach The NSW ICAC has found that former MPs Ian McDonald and Eddie Obeid acted corruptly over mining licences. EDDIE Obeid's tentacles reached into some of the highest levels of business, politics and government. Over the decade the disgraced former Labor powerbroker served in the NSW parliament, his power grew to enable the choosing of premiers and party candidates, and influencing which MPs got what ministerial portfolio. The dominating faction of the NSW Right at the time - the Terrigals - was named after his Central Coast beach house. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph yesterday in the wake of the Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry that on Wednesday recommended the DPP consider criminal charges against himself and fellow powerbroker Ian Macdonald after they were found to have engaged in corrupt conduct, Mr Obeid said he had "helped and supported" many MPs throughout his career. These included federal NSW minister Tony Burke and federal NSW MP John Murphy. He also said he supported Labor Senator Matt Thistlethwaite as the NSW general secretary, and his predecessor Sam Dastyari. The comments came as an angry Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called on Mr Obeid and Mr Macdonald to apologise to the party for damaging its reputation. "I believe it is time that those named in the ICAC report provide a full apology to the Labor Party members who have had their party damaged by the actions of a corrupt few," Mr Rudd said. Such an apology must be delivered without condition as a matter of urgency. While Mr Rudd said he had no recollection of ever having met Mr Obeid, the former powerbroker said his role in NSW had benefited federal Labor. "Federally, John Murphy, he always used my help, we helped him get preselected into the seat of Lowe, and Tony Burke," Mr Obeid said. When we help in NSW, we are helping the feds. Mr Burke was forced to amend his pecuniary interest register earlier this year after it was revealed he accepted free hospitality from Mr Obeid, staying at his ski chateau in Perisher with Senator Stephen Conroy. Asked about the holiday yesterday, Mr Burke distanced himself from Mr Obeid. Yeah, I was a member of parliament and he said that he had an apartment that was empty on a particular weekend, did I want to go? I went," he said. He was a work colleague. Mr Obeid helped elevate former NSW premier Morris Iemma into the leadership, before visiting his house up to three times a week. He also backed former union boss and Labor leader John Robertson into parliament and cabinet. The power Mr Obeid wielded extended well beyond the walls of Parliament House. One only has to look at his private diaries tendered during the ICAC inquiry. The entries, stretching over three years from 2007 to 2009, reveal a roll call of developers, union bosses and business figures seeking appointments with the then upper house MP. Names listed included mortgage king John Symond, who wanted to talk to Mr Obeid about his jetty, and wealthy developer Harry Triguboff, seeking a chat over bus services near one of his developments. Property developer Rocco Triulcio, a witness at the hearings, also regularly met Mr Obeid. Others names in Mr Obeid's diaries include Labor party strategist Shane Easson, disgraced former NSW Land and Property Management Authority head Warwick Watkins, Mr Dastyari, former federal minister Mark Arbib when he was NSW Labor general secretary and former Labor powerbroker Graham Richardson. Mr Obeid yesterday told journalists that he was the victim of a "political witch hunt," and accused Mr Robertson and Mr Dastyari for hanging him out to dry. He also labelled Mr Rudd's comments "irresponsible."