Second company suspended from Torrens-to-Darlington road project
A labour hire company at the centre of a controversy surrounding alleged bikie threats has had its contract for the $15.4 billion Torrens-to-Darlington project terminated, the South Australian government has confirmed.
Career Boss Australia, which had an agreement to supply workers to the South Road upgrade, had its contract suspended last month after it was revealed to be the subject of a civil dispute in the Supreme Court.
The civil claim, lodged by businessman Robert Cammarano, alleged that motorcycle gang member Jamie Brown attempted to "coerce the transfer" of shares in the company, without Mr Cammarano's authority, by making "express threats of physical harm".
The state government confirmed Career Boss's contract has been terminated by the T2D Alliance, a consortium of companies selected to deliver the major infrastructure project.
"The T2D Alliance wrote to Career Boss on October 18 to advise of the indefinite suspension of its labour hire agreement," an SA government spokesperson said.
"Based on its legal advice, and as previously foreshadowed, the Alliance has terminated the contract."
On Tuesday morning, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the dismissal was made on grounds that Career Boss have not "proactively disclosing" its involvement in a civil legal suit.
"Point being that even though it's a civil dispute that's enough to give us grounds to be able to terminate them," he told ABC News Breakfast.
The state treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said any contractors who had not declared changes to its management structures would also be terminated.
He said the Department for Infrastructure and Transport would conduct integrity checks on contracts.
"If we find any sudden changes in directorships, sudden changes in shareholdings, if there is controversy around the country, we will terminate for convenience," Mr Koutsantonis told 891 ABC Adelaide.
Tom Koutsantonis says other companies would have their Torrens-to-Darlington contracts cancelled if shareholder or directorship changes are not disclosed. (ABC News)
Alliance to appear before parliamentary committee
On Monday, parliament's budget and finance committee passed a motion compelling the T2D Alliance, led by construction company John Holland, to appear before it on November 16.
Opposition treasury spokesperson Ben Hood, who chairs the cross-party budget and finance committee, said on Monday the Alliance would be asked "what they knew and when, and when did the government alert them to this serious issue".
Ben Hood says the parliamentary budget and finance committee will press the T2D Alliance on its due diligence processes. (ABC News)
A representative of Mr Cammarano notified Transport Minister Joe Szakacs's chief of staff and Child Protection Minister Alice Rolls about the allegations at a meeting on September 11.
Mr Szakacs's office passed on the claims to the South Road project team, which investigated the claims and found "no red flags" in the shareholdings.
Police Minister Michael Brown last week told a press conference that all matters discussed in Ms Rolls's office were "already in the hands of police".
Today, Mr Hood called on the government to sack Mr Szakacs and Ms Rolls.
The premier and treasurer have both supported the decision to call the Alliance before the committee.
The civil matter lodged by Mr Cammarano will return to court on November 16.
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