The chair of the audit committee,Labor MP Julian Hill,suggested the inquiry on the grounds that the questions over Milo and his consulting firm,Synergy 360,had parallels with issues raised in the broader investigation into government procurement the committee began last October.
“The Watt report is a devastating case study in what not to do in Commonwealth procurement,” he said.
“Serious questions must be asked to work out what went on and what lessons must be learnt,including in relation to value for money,conflicts of interest and non-competitive processes.
“The primary focus will be on the five contracts of concern identified in the report,and we will seek evidence from Dr Watt,Services Australia,the NDIA and the contractors.”
The decision by committee members on Thursday morning came after Government Services Minister Bill Shorten wrote to the committee saying the issues needed investigation because the Watt review only looked at the actions of public service officials.
Robert said last year that ministers did not decide contracts because their departments applied probity rules that took them out of the decision.
‘The Watt report is a devastating case study in what not to do in Commonwealth procurement.’
Julian Hill,Labor MP and chair of the audit committee
Asked last year if he helped Milo’s company and its clients get contracts from the federal government,Robert said:“Of course not. What a load of rubbish.”
On Monday,The Age andThe Sydney Morning Heraldrevealed that a senior federal official oversaw a decision to award a contract to Milo’s firm in May 2019 despite a personal friendship with an owner of the firm. On Tuesday,it was revealed that tech company Unisys paid Milo’s firm and gained help from Robert in November 2017 to lobby MPs.
Leaked emails show that Unisys executive Tony Windever wrote to Milo in September 2017 to let him know he had written to Robert about gaining a meeting with the national security committee of federal cabinet.
“I sent Stuart an email yesterday to follow up our meeting and request contact details for the appropriate person to arrange a presentation to the committee,” Windever wrote on September 25.
“I also asked for his thoughts on delivering a similar presentation to the National Security Committee. Stuart hasn’t responded as yet.” There is no record that the presentation to NSC ever occurred.
Speaking in question time on Thursday,Shorten cited this email to express concern that Unisys had sought valuable access to government through Robert.
“How does a multinational company form the presumption that they can talk to the heart of our national security architecture in Australia?” Shorten asked.
Robert stood in parliament after question time to reject any suggestion he had done anything wrong and noted the events with Unisys took place when he was a backbencher.
Robert said the allegations by the minister regarded emails he was not included in and had no knowledge of.
“The idea that someone could present to NSC is ridiculous,” he said.
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