The report found allegations “could be substantiated” and they were elevated to Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray.
On August 22,Grech wrote:“I don’t necessarily disagree with[the first report substantiating the allegations] but it could be seen as a bit controversial and as we are dealing with a senior member I want a second opinion.”
Two days later,Grech wrote to the senior manager of professional standards and conduct at Transport for NSW to say that “all allegations for both matters have been substantiated”.
TheHerald is unable to confirm if any action has been taken,but an index of privileged documents tabled to parliament includes a redacted entry titled “confirmation of submission:Sydney Metro to ICAC-Elara”.
Greens transport spokesperson Cate Faehrmann,who sought the release of the documents to parliament,said a lack of transparency about the investigations was “beyond the pale”.
“Sydney Metro is receiving billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money and should not be above public scrutiny,” she said. “If there are allegations that have been substantiated,surely it’s in the public interest to know what they are.”
A Sydney Metro spokeswoman said no further details were available “to ensure the ongoing timely,open reporting from our employees and contractors,and to protect current live investigations”.
A second investigation,code-named Cyllene,oscillating through the transport agencies,has been looking into the use of so-called professional services contractors.
The internal documents also show Sydney Metro staff making the case for exceptions to government salary caps in order to pay people more than they would be entitled to under usual circumstances,as mega projects intensify competition for qualified people.
Sydney Metro chief executive Peter Regan told a parliamentary hearing three weeks ago that there were now “additional controls” to ensure contractors do not have access to the agency’s files,“while we undertake a very detailed review to ensure that all the contractor arrangements that we have in place are appropriate”.
The Sydney Metro spokeswoman said the agency had “robust procedures” to encourage confidential reporting,assess those reports and “take appropriate action”.
The agency is overseeing the construction of three mega rail lines across Sydney,one of which has almost doubled in cost to$21.6 billion since it was unveiled last decade.
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