Perth Voice Interactive

AFTER a suicide, eight convictions, a three-year investigation and almost $1 million recovered, a final corruption and crime commission report on rorts at Stirling city council is imminent.

In 2010 a CCC inquiry revealed collusion dating back to 2003.

Investigators believed a former building manager had received kickbacks in return for guaranteeing contracts to suppliers, regardless of whether they cost more.

Contracts worth more than $5 million were signed, with jobs being done at inflated prices, or not completed at all.

The day the man was to testify in 2010 he committed suicide. His name has—extraordinarily—been suppressed from publication ever since.

CCC spokesperson Amanda O’Brien said the powerful body’s final report on the rort would cover a number of councils.

“Because of the time that has passed since the original investigation the commission has decided to incorporate its findings in relation to the activities at Stirling city council into a wider report on procurement activities across a range of councils,” she says.

“Following the CCC investigation, the city announced it had successfully recovered around $848,000. “

“That report is currently being finalised.

“The CCC investigation into serious misconduct at Stirling city council uncovered an extensive web of criminal behaviour in regard to procurement.”

Eight people—seven contractors and one lawyer—were charged with offences ranging from corruption and destruction of evidence to providing false testimony.

The final court case was completed on February 10.

Following the CCC investigation, the city announced it had successfully recovered around $848,000.

Former Stirling councillor Paul Collins welcomed the news and says if it was not for the pro-active response of the city’s audit committee and subsequent motions moved by the council, the fraudulent issues discovered by the CCC may not have been discovered quite so soon, if at all.

“This was an example of councillors diligently applying their mind to the prospect of fraud occurring within the city,” he said.

In 2012, the CCC returned to the council and were satisfied with the improvements the city had made it to it procurement policies following the rort.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK