70 Australian Schools Caught Up In New Toner Scandal

Toner News Mobile Forums Toner News Main Forums 70 Australian Schools Caught Up In New Toner Scandal

Date: Thursday April 26, 2012 08:24:21 am
Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
  • Author
    Posts

  • Anonymous
    Inactive

    70 Australian Schools Caught Up In New Toner Scandal 

    THE Education Department has investigated up to 70 schools suspected of involvement in using taxpayers’ money to buy office equipment at inflated prices.Education Department chief executive Keith Bartley confirmed yesterday that some schools had been paying up to three times the normal rate of about $259 for printer cartridges in exchange for gifts and benefits.Giving evidence to the Budget and Finance Committee, Mr Bartley said 70 schools were investigated for the period from July 2009 and he would need to check whether there were any examples of abuse prior to July 2009.

    He confirmed one case had been referred to SA Police, seven were undergoing "detailed" review including three that had been with the internal investigations unit "for some time".There were additional inquiries at another 33 sites while at the remaining 30 schools the "purchases were of a limited amount and/or no impropriety was evident", Mr Bartley said.In March, Finance Minister Michael O’Brien released the final report of the Procurement Working Group, a committee formed to probe allegations of corruption after the misconduct became public in September.

    That report said 27 schools were implicated. At the time three government departments, including education, had not reported.Opposition finance spokesman and Budget and Finance Committee chairman Rob Lucas said he was surprised by Mr Bartley’s revelations.

    "It’s an extremely large number (of schools), one we haven’t seen before," he said.
    "The extent of the abuse within schools … is much wider and much more significant than has been revealed beforehand."Until we get a comprehensive inquiry by the Auditor-General or an ICAC we won’t get to the true extent of this abuse."The number of public servants who could face criminal charges for using taxpayers’ money to buy office equipment at inflated prices, in return for personal kickbacks, has blown out to 23.

    The Crown Solicitor’s Office is investigating 19 cases of alleged corruption by staff in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Health and Transport departments.More than $1.2 million in taxpayer money has been spent on printer cartridges with 21 linked suspect companies.

Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.