Two more agencies – the Attorney General’s Department and the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission – have been implicated in the ‘Cartridgegate’ scandal, evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee confirmed today.
AGD Chief Executive Jerome Maguire said a search of 10 years of printer cartridge purchases by the department had indentified 27 separate invoices, with a total value of $21,000, from the eight Victorian-based companies being investigated.
Mr Maguire indicated that some of these invoices dated back to at least 2007. Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said the Liberal Opposition had been provided with information that seven of the invoices come from the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner.
“Mr Maguire said today one of the invoices was being closely investigated because a gift was identified on the invoice,” Mr Lucas said.
“However, further information provided to the Liberal Opposition indicated that many invoices do not list the gift because the suppliers have been delivering the benefits to the private home addresses of some public servants.
“Mr Maguire agreed this information, if confirmed to be accurate, would need to be considered in any further investigation of these issues.
“SAFECOM Chief Executive David Place also confirmed they had identified one invoice involving the Metropolitan Fire Service over the last two year period.
“Premier Weatherill’s response so far on this scandal has been very weak. It is now time for him to show some strength. He should ensure that the Auditor-General conducts a comprehensive inquiry of all departments and agencies under the terms of Section 32 of the Public Finance and Audit Act.”