The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will resume the public inquiry it is conducting as part of its Operation Paragon investigation concerning former Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) employees Alexandre Dubois and Craig Steyn on Monday 6 December 2021 at 10am.
The public inquiry adjourned on 23 June 2021 due to then COVID-19 public health orders. The investigation is examining an allegation that, between 2009 and June 2019, Mr Dubois and Mr Steyn partially and/or dishonestly exercised their official functions by awarding in excess of $41 million in RMS contracts, to companies with which they were associated, in exchange for receiving benefits.
The general scope and purpose of the public inquiry is to gather evidence relevant to the matters being investigated for the purpose of determining the matters referred to in section 13(2) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988.
The Commission has decided that, until there is a substantial improvement in the COVID-19 situation in NSW, any public inquiries will, as far as practicable, be conducted remotely by audio visual link. Only those whose presence on Commission premises is deemed essential for the effective conduct of the public inquiry will be permitted on-site. Members of the public and the media will therefore not be permitted to attend the premises for the course of the Operation Paragon public inquiry. There is further information in the public inquiry protocol on the Commission’s website.
The Commission will live stream the proceedings via its website, www.icac.nsw.gov.au. The Commission will also upload exhibits (provided they are not subject to non-publication orders), transcripts and witness lists to the website. Updates will be provided throughout the course of the inquiry via the ICAC Twitter account (@nswicac).
ICAC Chief Commissioner the Hon Peter Hall QC is presiding at the public inquiry. Counsel Assisting the Commission are Jason Downing SC and Caroline Spruce of Counsel.
It is expected that the public inquiry will proceed for approximately one week, but may continue for the day of Tuesday 14 December. A witness list for the first week of the inquiry will be published closer to the commencement date of the proceedings, along with further information about how to access the live stream.
