Labor doing what it does best but at least someone is looking into it. #auspol #BSWNBPM #sameoldlabor -SOUTH Australia’s Independent Commissioner Against Corruption is investigating a controversial $122 million land deal brokered by South Australian Labor Premier Jay Weatherill and Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis behind closed doors without going to tender. Although the state has the most secretive anti-corruption body in the nation, South Australian Commissioner Bruce Lander this afternoon said he was exercising his power under the ICAC Act to make a statement about the matter as he believed it was in the public interest. This comes after The Australian today reported that Sydney barrister Geoffrey Watson, who has been assisting the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, believed the “unlawful” South Australian land deal was “very disturbing” and needed further inquiry. As The Australian reported today, Liberal treasury spokesman Rob Lucas has said the deal could be a matter for ICAC, while Mr Weatherill has said he takes full responsibility for the deal and anyone who had concerns, including public servants, were “at liberty” to refer the matter to the ICAC. A spokeswoman for commissioner Bruce Lander had told The Australian last night that no comment could be made at this time until she had discussed the matter with Mr Lander. The Premier last night said he had nothing further to add, but this afternoon, after Mr Lander’s public statement was released, said: “We welcome the inquiry, it is a good thing that this transaction is scrutinised to avoid any doubt about its probity.” Mr Lander today said his office was investigating the sale of government land at Gillman. “I have been closely following the evidence given before the Legislative Council Select Committee in its continuing inquiry, the ‘Sale of State Government Land at Gillman’, and the judicial review proceedings before Justice Blue,” Mr Lander said in a statement. “I have requested that the Auditor-General provide me with a copy of his report into the matter, but it may not be made available until after it has been formally tabled in Parliament.” Mr Lander said he was investigating the matter to determine if there was any evidence of maladministration. “This is not a corruption investigation. However, should I find any evidence to suggest that there has been conduct that falls within the ICAC Act’s definition of corruption, then I will pursue it,” he said. “At the conclusion of this investigation I will make a statement on my findings. I will proceed as quickly as possible to conclude the investigation.” This comes after the Premier flatly rejected on Tuesday Supreme Court criticism of the government and its processes. Justice Malcolm Blue found that the “irrational” decision in December 2013 by Mr Koutsantonis and Mr Weatherill to hand consortium Adelaide Capital Partners an exclusive option to develop a strategic 407ha industrial site at Gillman, in Adelaide’s north, without going to tender was “unlawful” but did not overturn the contract. An Auditor-General’s report found cabinet was misled when it made its decision to accept the deal and that there were several shortcomings in the process. The Australian revealed this week that ACP was still trying to secure investors to raise at least $200m to develop the land and could not name any definite investors. Mr Weatherill and Mr Koutsantonis have said they were within their rights to ignore advice from the board of state development agency Renewal SA and Treasury to sell the land on the open market. Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the public deserved to know the truth. “There have been two damning reports into this deal revealed in the last week, and we believe that this is an entirely appropriate response,” Mr Marshall said yesterday. “Justice Blue found that the deal was ‘unlawful’ and ‘irrational’ and the Auditor General found that the submission taken to Cabinet by Jay Weatherill and Tom Koutsantonis on Gillman was ‘misleading’. “Maladministration is a very serious issue, and one that needs to be resolved via the proper channels. “There has been long-term speculation surrounding the government’s conduct on sale of the Gillman land, which is why that state Liberals established a parliamentary inquiry into the matter.” A spokesman for Mr Weatherill said the Premier would not stand aside while the ICAC inquiry was conducted.- theaustralian.au/national-affairs/state-politics/icac-investigates-122m-gillman-land-deal/story-e6frgczx-1227193571451
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 07:30:10 +0000