Printer cartridge rort widens
Post on: 2011-11-02 By: admin
JUSTICE Department chief executive Jerome Maguire has revealed further instances of alleged printer cartridge rorts and warned graft in the public service will be difficult to wipe out.
Mr Maguire today told Parliament's Budget and Finance Committee that three suspect cartridge purchases were made in the department in 2007.The expenses totalled less than $1000 but come in addition to at least $430,000 in suspect purchases already known across government.Concerns have been raised about the spending, where taxpayers' money is used to buy overpriced printer cartridges in return for gifts including vouchers and electronic goods.Up to 10 departments are now believed to be involved and the conduct of at least two public servants has been referred to police.The committee today also heard evidence that one suspect purchase valued about $300 had been uncovered in the Metropolitan Fire Service.
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Mr Maguire said the alleged behaviour was intolerable and reviews of purchasing and auditing processes were underway.It is a difficult exercise to stamp out all that kind of behavior across the sector, he said.No matter what laws are in place, there will always be opportunity to rort the system.Mr Maguire said his department may need to implement harm mitigation measures if it could not completely eliminate graft.On Saturday, AdelaideNow revealed at least 10 SA Health sites had been implicated.Invoices show staff received gifts including Playstations, iPods and movie tickets for buying overpriced toner.The developments came a fortnight after SA Health chief executive David Swan told a parliamentary committee only three sites were involved.In a statement, Mr Swan said the department only just received additional information this week and was willing to include all areas of concern in an ongoing investigation.Opposition finance spokesman Rob Lucas again called for a full inquiry and claimed senior public sector sources had told him more than 10 departments were involved.It is now clear this scandal is spiralling out of control as every week, more departments and staff are implicated, he said.Mr Lucas said the rorts were a damning reflection on the Government's financial management.He called for Treasurer Jack Snelling to trigger a broad Auditor-General's investigation under public finance laws.Tax invoices from SA Health outlets, leaked to the Opposition, show public servants were spending up to seven times more than necessary for cartridges. In return, they received digital cameras, iPods, an iPhone, supermarket vouchers and movie passes.A Victorian Ombudsman's report into similar practices in that state's public service found widespread misuse of money.The invoices show gifts were provided to staff at sites including the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Parks Community Centre.Concerns over printer cartridge purchases were exposed last month when it was found the Aboriginal affairs division of the Department of Premier and Cabinet spent $80,000 on cartridges with a company that offered vouchers and electronic goods as rewards.That sparked audits of all government departments to determine the scale of the alleged rort.The Government has declined to reveal the full scale of concerns over the cartridge purchases and directed inquiries to individual departments.
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