NSW Government bureaucrats treated to harbour cruise before multimillion-dollar tender won
A team of NSW Government employees enjoyed an all-expenses paid Sydney Harbour booze cruise that was paid for by a company tendering for a multimillion-dollar contract.
NSW
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A team of NSW Government employees enjoyed an all-expenses paid Sydney Harbour booze cruise courtesy of a company which successfully tendered for a multimillion-dollar contract.
The all-day outing was investigated by NSW Department of Health officials and referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption after the company that paid for it won the tender.
Joining the seven NSW Government-employed members of the HealthShare procurement team on the cruise was Aytunc Tezay, boss of LeasePlus, the company later awarded the deal.
The seven staff, including employee governance leader Mitchell Richards, opted to “work from home” before leaving at 10am to join their colleagues on the cruise, which included free flowing Crown Lager, sparkling wine and sauvignon blanc.
They posted pictures on social media with Mr Tezay and others drinking as the Sydney Showboat wafted past the Sydney Opera House while they tucked into the “deluxe lunch with roast turkey”.
At the time of the cruise, November 30, 2018, the LeasePlus bid for the contract to supply pre-tax lease deals to up to 7500 NSW government employees was under evaluation.
LeasePlus boss Mr Tezay said: “None of the HealthShare people who attended the cruise were part of the tender process.” They joined a party of around 40 LeasePlus staff and customers for the jaunt.
He said he checked NSW Health ethics and was told entertainment was permitted up to $70 a head.
“It was $69 per person, including everything. I honestly did not realise a Christmas Party invitation at $69 was going to cause such problems.”
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Mr Tezay said the tender had been issued on November 5 and closed on November 23. However, the cruise took place in the middle of the evaluation, negotiation and contract award period which ended on December 21.
Mr Tezay said he had been asked to provide a response to HealthShare as part of an inquiry late last year but had not heard back.
A HealthShare NSW spokesman said none of its employees on the cruise had been involved in the tender process but once it became aware of the trip it referred the matter to ICAC in March 2019.
ICAC recommended the Ministry conduct an investigation, which found “no evidence of corrupt conduct” but “weaknesses” around staff understanding of their responsibilities.
The spokesman said HealthShare issued warnings and counselled the employees involved to remind them of the professional conduct that is required of everyone working in NSW Health. It also appointed a new leadership team to manager the salary packaging service and boosted integrity training.