Transport Minister Corey Wingard urges political opponent Tom Koutsantonis to hand over rail contract documents to ICAC
The deal to privatise the state’s train network has taken another twist, with Transport Minister Corey Wingard asking an arch-rival to hand whistleblower documents about the contract to ICAC.
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Transport Minister Corey Wingard has written to his political sparring partner asking for him to hand over emails about a $2.1bn rail contract, which Mr Wingard last week described as “magical” and “fabricated”, to a corruption watchdog.
The request comes as new Freedom of Information documents show a Liberal staffer was offered a lucrative government contract, worth between $167,000 and $257,000, days after losing his job.
This was over a travel scandal, which engulfed his minister.
In a letter sent to Opposition transport spokesman Tom Koutsantonis on Monday, Mr Wingard “strongly urged” his political opponent to hand over any information he has in his possession to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC).
“The information that you have put in the public arena raises serious questions that a senior employee within the department may have undertaken actions that raise potential issues of serious misconduct in public administration ... ,” Mr Wingard said in the letter.
Last week, The Advertiser revealed Wendy McMillan, the head of Bombardier Transportation – part of an unsuccessful bid for the contract – had written to a government-appointed probity officer, Ken Patterson, asking for “a full and independent probity investigation” into the bid process for a $2.1bn rail contract.
Mr Wingard told The Advertiser on Tuesday the documents he was provided in Parliament last week did not include evidence of misconduct. He again urged Mr Koutsantonis to hand over any material he had.
But Mr Koutsantonis said he would not be doing “anything that identifies this brave whistleblower, who wants to expose the probity issues” in the rail contract.
He said the government should immediately release the contract and the outcome of the multiple probity investigations under way into the privatisation process.
It follows a tumultuous month for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport after a leaked memo from chief executive Tony Braxton-Smith revealed the department would create a high-level “public affairs” unit including Andrew Ockenden, the former chief of staff of David Ridgway, who resigned last month amid a travel perks scandal engulfing the government. Mr Ridgway stepped down after signing blank time sheets for his chauffer.
New FoI documents show that Mr Ockenden was employed on a one-year contract worth between $167,000 and $257,000.
Emails appear to show Mr Ockenden met Mr Braxton-Smith after losing his job with Mr Ridgway, on July 26. On Friday, July 29, he was sent an executive contract to sign. A department spokesman said Mr Ockenden brought a wealth of experience to the role – including a senior position on the WestConnex motorway – and was appointed on a short-term contract.
This enabled him to make an “immediate start” on an increasing program of transport infrastructure construction, he said. “All new senior roles will be advertised in due course as appropriate,” he said. He said the appointment was made on July 29, after Mr Braxton-Smith checked Mr Ockenden’s CV and two referees.
Mr Koutsantonis said it was staggering the position was not advertised.
Minister’s missing the bigger picture
Opinion – Matt Smith
Cabinet Minister Corey Wingard was handed the keys to one of the most important portfolios in SA when he was given transport and infrastructure from embattled Stephan Knoll in July.
But just two months into the job he might be wondering what he has gotten himself in to – he is possibly not the only one thinking the same.
Last week The Advertiser reported, via leaked emails, that an unsuccessful bidder for a $2bn rail contract wanted a probe into how the contract was handled.
Serious stuff that warranted serious attention.
In response, Mr Wingard spent most of the day referring to “magical” and “fabricated” emails. Once presented with a document in parliament, he did declare: “I take on board his email, the email was fabricated up until about two minutes ago.”
Mr Wingard’s performance was bizarre.
But this week he seems to be intent on going one better, sending a letter to opponent Tom Koutsantonis, who had the emails, asking him to hand them to ICAC.
Blow the whistle on the whistleblower, so to speak.
It is not the first time Mr Wingard has written to his political opponents.
In May 2018, the then-emergency services minister sent a stern email to the then-Labor backbencher Blair Boyer requesting he refrain from sending tasty treats, in the form of doughnuts, to volunteer fire brigades.
With plenty on his plate – including fighting off accusations of a privatisation agenda or a lack of meaningful infrastructure spending – Mr Wingard must surely have better things to do.