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From 'that man'...

Senators query air project alliances  

• by: EAN HIGGINS
  
• From: The Australian
  
• August 19, 2015 12:00AM
  

Reporter
Sydney




Senate committee chairman Bill Heffernan. Source: News Corp Australia


Senators last night alleged an ­“incestuous” relationship among consultants, contractors and Airservices Australia executives ­involved in the ambitious $1.5 billion program to integrate the ­nation’s civilian and military air traffic control systems.  

At a Senate committee hearing, senators claimed a web of personal and corporate interconnections cast doubts over One­SKY, the flagship project of government-owned Airservices, which runs the nation’s air traffic control system and airport fire and rescue services.

These included a “husband and wife team” on opposite sides of a transaction ­between Air­services and the consultancy group it engaged in a multi-­million-dollar contract to advise it on OneSKY, the International Centre for Complex Project Management.
Senators also pointed to the fact Chris Jenkins, the managing director of the project’s successful prime contractor, the inter­national airspace group Thales, is also chairman of ICCPM.

The Senate’s rural and region­al affairs and transport legislation committee heard Air­services had outsourced the role of lead negotiator in its dealings with Thales to an ICCPM consultant, former RAAF officer Harry Bradford.

“The perception of conflict of interest is all over this,” said Labor senator Joe Bullock.
The committee chairman, Liberal Bill Heffernan, joined Senator Bullock in describing the arrangements as “incestuous” and said they would “not pass the public test … it sounds dodgy”.
Airservices acting chief executive Jason Harfield denied any conflicts of interest.
“It’s a small community,” he said of the airspace management business, but insisted it was not a case of “just being a web of mates”.

The OneSKY program, to be implemented between 2018 and 2021, envisages 200 radar consoles operated by civilian and air force controllers displaying the same information in real time.

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, whose transport portfolio covers aviation, has strongly supported OneSKY, with a spokesman saying he was “satisfied that the ongoing negotiation and acquisition of One­SKY are being managed appro­priately.”

Senator Heffernan, deputy chairman Glenn Sterle and other committee members expressed serious concerns.

Senator Sterle repeatedly asked Mr Harfield whether the board had known of the personal and professional relationships when it signed off on Thales as the principal contractor for OneSKY.

“I can’t speak for the board,” Mr Harfield eventually said.

Senators raised the prospect of calling board members, including chairman Angus Houston.

The committee heard that ICCPM managing director Deborah Hein is the wife of Steve Hein, who worked for ICCPM until hired by Airservices in a senior managerial role. One contract Airservices struck with ICCPM was processed by Mr Hein.

“He was acting in my role … while I was away in the US,” Mr Harfield said, adding Mr Hein’s involvement was limited to getting sign-off from a more senior manager.

He said to ensure probity, the Heins had been excluded from the tender evaluation ­process.

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