THE end of disgraced former MP Milton Orkopolous' time in prison may be in sight following a decision that has opened the door to his parole.
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The NSW State Parole Authority confirmed on Friday that it had formed an intention to grant Orkopolous, 62, parole during a private hearing.
"A public review hearing will be scheduled to hear submissions from the State of NSW and registered victims," a spokeswoman said.
"His earliest possible release date was 18 February 2017. His sentence expires 18 October 2021."
The Newcastle Herald reported in March this year that the convicted pedophile's parole was due to undergo a closed-door review in May.
He had applied for parole before, in 2017 and January last year, but was rejected both times.
In 2018, Corrections NSW confirmed it had accepted a recommendation from the Serious Offenders Review Council to allow Mr Orkopolous to apply for day leave.
The former NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister and Swansea MP in Labor's Morris Iemma government was convicted of 30 child sex and drug offences in 2008.
His crimes were committed between 1995 and 2006 and involved the grooming of three young boys with drugs and alcohol in exchange for sex.
He was sentenced to a maximum of 13 years and 8 months.
When he was sentenced, Judge Ralph Coolahan said Orkopoulos used his position of authority and power to win the trust of his victims and introduced one to heroin, an act that he described as "a very serious offence".
"His conduct was premeditated, predatory and manipulative with far-reaching impacts," Judge Coolahan said at the time.
After the sentencing, then Premier Morris Iemma said: "This man is now in jail where he belongs. His repugnant double life has been exposed and he has been prosecuted for his vile acts."
That exposure came partly thanks to whistle-blower Gillian Sneddon, who was told by police in 2009 that they could not help her.
Orkopolous had written to Ms Sneddon after he was incarcerated after she won a workers' compensation case that alleged Orkopolous bullied and harassed her when she worked for him in 2005 and 2006.
The mistreatment occurred after the former Swansea electorate secretary told Orkopoulos that a teenage male had made sexual abuse allegations to her about him.