Sydney’s Canterbury-Bankstown Council calls in private investigator to plug leaks

A Sydney council has called in a private investigator to plug leaks to the press, with elected representatives set to face Zoom interrogations at the hands of PIs being paid thousands.

Canterbury-Bankstown Council has hired a private eye to help plug media leaks.

A Sydney council has called in a private investigator to plug leaks to the press, as elected representatives face Zoom interrogations by a sleuth who is being paid thousands in ratepayer funds.

Canterbury-Bankstown council, in Sydney’s southwest, has hired firm Centium to investigate alleged code of conduct breaches, – namely how confidential information was leaked to The Daily Telegraph newspaper over the past six months, which is part of News Corp Australia, the owner of this publication.

The investigation pertains to leaks from council’s confidential sessions, including two recently involving the censure of a councillor, Barbara Coorey, and another to do with a “costs dispute” with a contractor redeveloping the town centre, all published in The Daily Telegraph.

The specific leak that instigated the investigation pertained to the Canterbury town centre development, where previous reporting revealed how council and constructor Abergeldie were in a “dispute” over the project’s costs, given Covid-induced and weather-related delays.

In an email sent to all 15 councillors, staff explained they had “commenced an independent investigation” into the “scurrilous” and “damaging” leaks.

“Centium has been appointed to carry out the investigation and has advised that they will conduct a 10-minute Zoom interview with each councillor,” councillors were told.

The council has hired a private investigator after a string of leaks to the press.

“Of most concern is how a confidential council report has found its way into the hands of a journalist,” another email to all councillors said.

On its website, Centium describes itself as a having a “track record of investigations into suspected employee misconduct”.

A council spokeswoman didn’t disclose how much the investigation would cost ratepayers – although it is understood to be in the thousands of dollars – and said it took leaks seriously.

“Council confidential sessions are closed for a reason,” she said.

“It’s about protecting people against reputational damage, or in the case of contractual matters about not giving anyone an unfair advantage.”

Canterbury-Bankstown council chambers, in Sydney’s southwest.

Disclosing confidential information can result in prosecution or a $5500 fine under the Local Government Act.

“The findings of any investigation would determine what, if any, action needs to be taken,” the spokeswoman said.

The matter has also been referred to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, The Australian can confirm.

A NSW Local Government Office spokeswoman said councils were “entitled” to take steps to plug leaks, “which includes engaging an external investigator to identify the source of a leak”.