John Maitland picked for his political links, ICAC hears FORMER CFMEU president John Maitland was the perfect choice as boss of the Doyles Creek mining project because of his "easier access" to disgraced former resources minister Ian Macdonald. The revelation came from mining consultant James Chisholm, whose evidence at private hearings last year was released during yesterday's Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing. Mr Chisholm had also made mention of a Doyles Creek investor enjoying expensive meals with Mr Macdonald and Mr Maitland. Mr Macdonald is being investigated by ICAC for his granting of an exploration licence to Mr Maitland and a small group of investors who turned their initial outlays into multimillion-dollar profits. Evidence Mr Chisholm gave last year about dealings with Doyles Creek investor Craig Ransley - another being investigated by the inquiry for potential corruption conduct - centred on talk between the friendship of Mr Macdonald and Mr Maitland. "Did you get reports on what was happening between Maitland and the minister," Commissioner David Ipp asked. "I only recall a couple of instances when Mr Ransley talked about meetings with Mr Maitland and Mr Macdonald, lunches, I think they were or dinners in Sydney," Mr Chisholm said. One was a reference to a meeting where they had quite expensive wine. Another was a reference to a meeting in a restaurant with a private entry access because ... Mr Macdonald liked having private access in restaurants. He told the inquiry Mr Ransley "didn't like to have to report" to Mr Maitland, but it was decided the former union heavyweight would be chairman of Doyles Creek Mining because he knew Mr Macdonald well. ICAC heard yesterday that Mr Ransley wrote in emails in 2008, before the granting of the exploration licence, that the mine shouldn't show "huge profits." There has been evidence this week that the coal reserve measurements were kept "conservative" prior to Mr Macdonald signing the exploration licence over a magnum of pinot noir at the exclusive Catalina Restaurant. The licence - worth as much as $100 million to the state - was "gifted" to Mr Maitland, who stood to earn nearly $15 million from it within three years, the inquiry has previously heard. ICAC Commissioner David Ipp altered the scope of the inquiry on Tuesday, saying its findings would now be delivered in two stages instead of one. The first report is expected to be handed down at the end of July.