THE chief executive of a company established by Campbell Newman’s family had worked for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority just before the business made an unsolicited pitch for a $30 million-a-year contract from the government body.
Christopher Austin was among the first recruited to the Reconstruction Authority in January and while at the authority helped set up a disaster-recovery business with Mr Newman’s wife, Lisa, and her brother, Seb Monsour.
The company, Majella Global Technologies Asia Pacific – which is 60 per cent owned by Mrs Newman’s family – unsuccessfully sought the contract on February 18 to provide disaster-recovery expertise to the Reconstruction Authority, despite being in business for less than a month.
In a statement to The Australian last night, Majella said Mr Austin resigned from the authority on January 28 because he was aware of a “potential conflict of interest”. He had joined the authority as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve.
Mr Monsour told The Australian Mr Austin resigned from the Reconstruction Authority when he became involved in Majella – set up on January 21 – and began planning to pitch work to the government body, then headed by Major General Mick Slater. It is understood Mr Slater was unaware of Mr Austin’s business involvement and did not personally recruit the reservist.
Asked if Mr Austin was involved with the pitch for the contract while at the Reconstruction Authority, Mr Monsour said: “No, it was the reason why he left the authority.”
Documents show that in February Majella emailed the authority pushing for an employee to be given a position.
Mr Monsour said last night the “commendation” related to Mr Austin. He said company policy prevented Mr Austin from personally commenting.
The revelation comes as Queensland Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser referred Mr Newman to the Crime and Misconduct Commission alleging Mr Newman or his wife may have not complied with his financial disclosure requirements before resigning as Brisbane lord mayor in late March.
Mr Newman last night issued a statement saying he would co-operate with the CMC if it chose to launch an investigation.
“Andrew Fraser has referred the matter of my pecuniary interests to the CMC and I am more than happy to co-operate fully with any investigation, should they choose to undertake one,” the Liberal National Party leader said. “As the matter is now before the CMC it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Earlier in the day, Mr Newman accused Premier Anna Bligh of setting up a “dirt unit” to attack him and that he had met every legal requirement in relation to his financial disclosures. “Queensland is run today by drunks, punks and desperados, headed by Anna Bligh with her dirt unit,” he said.
“This is just more of the same summer of sleaze that we told people about a few weeks ago.”
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