Allegations of corruption involving public servants and kickbacks in awarding government contracts have triggered a significant inquiry in New South Wales. Starting Monday, the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will conduct public hearings over six weeks to investigate whether employees of Transport for NSW engaged in dishonest practices when granting tenders to private firms since 2012.
Transport for NSW is responsible for issuing contracts related to new infrastructure projects and maintenance, with numerous companies competing for multimillion-dollar contracts after being selected for a panel. The inquiry follows a previous ICAC investigation that led to raids on the head office of Protection Barriers Pty Ltd, a major player in the state’s roadworks sector, in September 2023. During this period, the company secured contracts exceeding $110 million for road safety initiatives over the last decade.
A former state employee, Adele Graham, shared her insights on the situation during an interview with Nine’s A Current Affair, alleging that Protection Barriers received preferential treatment in the tender process. “They (Protection Barriers) should have been doing $7 million worth of work a year – in actual fact, they were doing nearly $30 million worth of work a year,” Graham stated.
The ICAC’s investigation is marked by significant actions, including the seizure of luxury vehicles from Protection Barriers’ headquarters in northern NSW. The firm subsequently entered voluntary administration in March 2023. The inquiry will see key figures such as company founder Jason Chellew testify on Monday, with his wife, Meshel Chellew, scheduled to appear on Wednesday. Additionally, the inquiry will hear from Peco and Saso Jankulovski, directors of Complete Linemarking Services Pty Ltd, later in the week.
Oversight and Previous Findings
The inquiry will be overseen by chief commissioner John Hatzistergos, a former attorney-general of New South Wales, with legal counsel provided by Rob Ranken SC and Grainne Marsden. In a related finding from 2023, the corruption watchdog uncovered that two former Transport for NSW employees awarded contracts worth over $7 million in exchange for benefits from mid-2010 to mid-2019.
As the public hearings unfold, the integrity of the tendering process and the accountability of public officials are set to be scrutinised, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat corruption within government entities. The outcome of this inquiry could have significant implications for transport contracts and public trust in the integrity of government operations in New South Wales.
