Opposition raises concerns over transport project’s contract roles

Queensland’s opposition has raised concerns about a decision to contract out commercial roles on a major infrastructure project to members of a new consulting firm who recently left another government agency.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has confirmed it engaged two members of the fledgling Nexus Infrastructure Partners as commercial directors on its The Wave project on the Sunshine Coast.

Partners Ted Williams and David Kalinowski announced the new firm last month after wrapping up more than five years in senior commercial roles with the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority.

A spokesperson for the department said the pair were two of four commercial directors for The Wave, appointed to their roles as contractors through an open-market tender process, as first reported by this masthead.

Williams and Kalinowski have not responded to approaches for comment. This masthead is not suggesting the pair has engaged in any wrongdoing.

In a statement to this masthead, Labor’s transport spokesperson Bart Mellish labelled the detail “deeply concerning”, and said it only added to the “muddy waters” around the hybrid bus and train project.

“Contracts for multibillion-dollar transport projects should be managed free from any potential or perceived corruption risk – taxpayers deserve that respect,” Mellish said.

“This multibillion-dollar project now has a cloud over it … and Queenslanders deserve better.”

In response to questions on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said only: “While the former Labor government may have asked the corrupt CFMEU who they should appoint, this appointment was through an open-market tender process.”

Mellish also pointed to reported links between Mickelberg and one of his lobbyist brother-in-law’s clients, which is vying to win a contract on the project.

Both Mickelberg and his brother-in-law, former Tasmanian Liberal Party director Pete Coulson, have denied any inappropriate lobbying took place, and this masthead is not suggesting otherwise.

Mellish noted The Wave would deliver a new station near Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie’s home – an issue over which Bleijie has declared a conflict of interest.

The government last month added stages one to three of The Wave to a contentious scheme fast-tracking Olympic delivery and overriding existing planning laws.

Announcing the amendments, which were added to a bill by Olympic and Paralympic Games Minister Tim Mander, Bleijie said doing so “cuts through bureaucratic delays”.

Mellish said: “These now exempt The Wave project from development application processes, public notification periods, third-party appeal rights, and … any independent public scrutiny.”

While the LNP went to the election promising passenger rail to Maroochydore, under the mass-transit The Wave project, train lines will only be built to Birtinya, where rapid Brisbane Metro-style buses would continue to the Sunshine Coast Airport at Marcoola.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.