Arabic version: رئيس وزراء جنوب أستراليا يطلب مراجعة «آيكك» لمشروع تورنز إلى دارلينغتون
According to ABC News, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has referred the $15 billion Torrens to Darlington road project to the state’s Independent Commission Against Corruption over concerns about potential organised-crime infiltration of subcontracting work.
The referral follows reports that an outlaw gang member “attempted to take an interest” in a labour hire company contracted to work on the Adelaide western suburbs project. The company has since had its contract suspended. Mr Malinauskas said he had seen no evidence that organised crime had gained access to the project, but wanted safeguards assessed to ensure that remained the case.
In writing to ICAC commissioner Emma Townsend, the premier requested an evaluation of procurement and contracting arrangements, including protections against improper influence, conflicts of interest and organised-crime infiltration. The government said ICAC would decide whether to examine the matter, and described the request as a precautionary measure intended to protect taxpayer funds.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Joe Szakacs said his office was briefed on concerns about the labour hire company on September 11. He suspended its contract five weeks later, after media reported a court case alleging a bikie had strongarmed the interstate transfer of company shares. Mr Szakacs said earlier concerns were hearsay linked to a shareholder dispute and had been referred to the project team for investigation.
Mr Malinauskas said that, with hindsight, Mr Szakacs would have directly alerted him sooner, while defending the minister’s reporting of the concerns to the Torrens to Darlington Alliance. Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn welcomed ICAC involvement but called for a full audit of every project contract by the auditor-general. The transport corridor upgrade is jointly funded by the state and federal governments and has been described as South Australia’s biggest-ever infrastructure project.
