A former defence official who allegedly handed confidential information to a weapons maker is still working for the French-owned business despite being at the centre of a formal referral to the corruption watchdog.
A defence employee solicited a bottle of champagne from Thales and gave the company confidential information ahead of a billion-dollar munitions deal in 2016.A former defence official at the centre of a formal referral to the National Anti-Corruption Commission is still working at Thales , a French-owned weapons maker.
Following the referral, the National Anti-Corruption Commission instructed defence to conduct its own preliminary investigation, which the ABC can reveal has been "unable to substantiate the allegation". Defence sources, along with other industry figures including Thales employees, have confirmed to the ABC that the former bureaucrat identified by the ANAO remains working for the French-owned company as an "industrial strategy advisor".Prior to joining Thales in 2019, the official had worked inside the defence department's Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group providing governance, direction and oversight for the explosive material branch.
The NACC instructed defence to use records already held by the department to conduct its preliminary investigation and to then pass on any findings of improper behaviour. At the end of October, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy is expected to announce a new multi-million-dollar contract to produce 155mm artillery rounds in Australia under the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance enterprise.
Defence Munitions Weapons Industry NACC National Anti-Corruption Watchdog Defence Department
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