Among the political tremors and “cash for favours” scandals, a document tendered to the commission last week slipped by without media fanfare.

It comes after a barrage of damning revelations in ICAC, including coal licenses granted by the corrupt former resources minister Ian Macdonald to family and friends of Eddie Obeid.

The copy of a 2010 email, sent to then chief fundraiser for the NSW Liberal Party Paul Nicolaou, claims former Whitehaven managing director Tony Haggarty was writing a cheque to the Free Enterprise Foundation, a Liberal Party slush fund.

“Tried to push him above the $10k ... but will wait and see what he sends you,” the email reads.

“I have committed to set up some time with Barry in the New Year,” it concludes, in what appears to be a reference to disgraced former premier Barry O’Farrell.

As the battle lines tighten between miners and environmentalists in the region, the email illustrates the extraordinary access senior mining figures had to our state’s top politicians.

Even if the email holds true, Mr Haggarty was not subverting NSW political donation laws and The Leader is not suggesting he acted improperly.

Political donations remain legal for mining companies, but not for property developers.

The fact mining company donations are not illegal merely reinforces why NSW so desperately needs funding law reform.

As each grubby detail emerges from ICAC, the public loses more faith in the system.

Approvals of massive mining projects, like that at Maules Creek, have a potentially profound impact on the future of our communities.

With that much at stake, integrity in the process is critical.

And until mining companies are included on a banned donors register, that integrity will be lacking.