Investigation findings into Georges River Council leaked information revealed
An independent report into the leaking of confidential council information to the media was investigated with the findings now revealed.
St George Shire Standard
Don't miss out on the headlines from St George Shire Standard. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Georges River ratepayers have forked out $62,000 for a “fact finding” probe which found no person responsible for leaking confidential information to the media about an ICAC investigation.
The Georges River Council commissioned an independent investigative report by Weir Consulting to identify the person or persons that may have leaked confidential information to the Sydney Morning Herald which was published in an article on December 5, 2020.
The councillors wanted to find out how a member of the public knew about an ICAC investigation and made mention of it in a submission at a council meeting on December 14, 2020.
The leak investigation concluded no source could be identified, a report prepared for the council meeting said.
An article published in the Herald revealed $4m meant to have been paid by developers earmarked for the community’s benefit was discovered missing from the coffers of Georges River Council after an internal investigation.
A confidential report obtained by the Herald said council auditors uncovered widespread undercharging of developer contributions, which must be paid when a project is approved to fund essential community infrastructure, by the former Kogarah Council.
Councillor Constantine Hindi asked a question of the general manager Gail Connolly as to whether the leaked information in the Herald article had been referred to ICAC, which did not occur.
That development came after the December 5 article revealed two councillors, Constantine Hindi and Vince Badalati, were being investigated by ICAC over an unrelated matter.
The ICAC is investigating whether, between 2014 and 2021, then Hurstville City Council and later Georges River Council councillors Mr Hindi and Mr Badalati, and then Hurstville councillor Philip Sansom, sought and/or accepted benefits as an inducement or reward for partially and dishonestly exercising their official functions to favour the interests of Chinese developers.
The public inquiry in this matter is complete but ICAC is yet to release its determination and findings.
In the investigation into the alleged leak to the media, Weir consultants considered six issues when confidential information may have been subject to unauthorised disclosure.
As part of the investigation, the council’s records system was interrogated which provides an audit trail of persons who access or attempt to access documents and a number of staff, councillors and other people were interviewed.
“On the basis of the information gathered during the course of this investigation and taking into account the balance of probabilities that there is insufficient evidence to identify the source of any unauthorised disclosure of confidential information,” the investigation concluded.
In a response to questions from the Standard, a council spokeswoman said the report was provided on a confidential basis and “therefore will not be published”.
“The investigation was undertaken in accordance with a lawful decision of Council and Council accepts that not all investigations necessarily identify wrongdoing,” the spokeswoman said.
“The outcome may be a focus on improvement to processes and systems.”
The report made two recommendations which was for the council to continue implementing “confidentiality and security measures” and to ensure a complainant and respondent are only advised of progress and actions in an investigation that is relevant to them through formal correspondence.
The spokeswoman said there was an annual allocation included in the council’s budget for investigations and complaint handling.
At the council meeting it is expected the Weir Consulting’s report will be received and noted.
On Friday, Mayor Nick Katris told the Standard the report had been withdrawn from the council meeting however the council spokeswoman confirmed it was proceeding as expected.
Ouch! Passion and pain at City v Country junior rugby
City teams dominated a dramatic junior rugby showdown in Newcastle, with one Country captain playing through a suspected broken nose in a day of thrilling contests.
$355m loss: NSW worst pokie hotspots
This is where NSW pokie players have lost more than $355 million in four months. Search and check our interactive table to see if it’s where you live and how your suburb compares.