SMH-Defence gear gone, public pays the bill

This article shows how the gap from negligence to conflict-of-interest to fraud is easily bridged when no useful oversight or enforcement is in place.

The Defence Integrated Distribution Services contract caused controversy in 2001 when then defence minister Peter Reith cancelled the original tender process and gave six bidders $1 million each to re-submit claims. In 2002, Mr Reith's successor, Robert Hill, announced Tenix-Toll as the preferred tenderer. Mr Reith was working as a consultant for Tenix at the time, having not contested the 2001 election.

Good reporting.