Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 4:58 to 7:40
Secretary Jim Betts provides statistics on allegations of unlawful or corrupt behavior on Commonwealth-funded infrastructure projects, noting 84 total allegations across 20 projects.
Topics: Infrastructure, Integrity, Government spending
Speakers: Hon Bridget McKenzie, Mr. Jim Betts, Jessica Hall, Unknown Speaker
>> Thank you so much, Chair, and thank you for those uh very apt words. Uh Mr. Bet, I actually want to go to um the allegations of corruption on public infrastructure sites. Um something we've discussed a lot. Um previously you've advised that um the department has received 63 reports of allegations of unlawful or corrupt uh behavior on Commonwealth funded infrastructure projects, including 56 in Victoria. We're now in October. How many new reports of allegations of unlawful and corrupt behavior has the department received to date?
>> Okay. Um, thank you very much, senator. So, uh, we're happy to provide that information to you. In fact, we have a summary table which I believe table which will set this out for all jurisdictions. Um but the headlines are as of uh now >> total allegations um uh it's 84 across 20 projects that constitutes 4.1% of the infrastructure investment program and since the last Senate estimates
>> sorry is that 4.1% by dollar value or by project
>> purely by number.
>> Okay.
>> Um I don't have it by dollar value but we could probably calculate that for you. uh since the last Senate estimates, my understanding is that um there have been 27 new allegations. Um now I just do do want to emphasize and this will be made clear in the document that we're tableabling that an allegation um or or multiple allegations may relate to a single incident and that will become apparent I guess during the course of investigation by the relevant regulatory authority >> where allegations have been made. Um uh our information is that all allegations have been referred to the relevant regulator andor law enforcement body.
>> Thank you. So can we run through them then? Miss Hall. >> Um I just would like by project >> nature of allegation and by state.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Well, I guess project equals
>> Thank you. Senator Jessica Hall, deputy secretary. Um, would you just like us to go through the ones that are new since
>> Let's just get a whole list so there's no
>> Would you like us to just
>> I would like you to do that because if I had the list, I wouldn't have to ask questions. Have to read the list. >> You've got the list. Run table the list, but I would like you to run through the list, please. >> Thank you.