Overview
- ICAC, which released its Operation Landan report Wednesday, found Anthony Manning misused public funds by steering jobs and contracts to friends while leading School Infrastructure NSW.
- He subverted hiring rules to place associates in well-paid roles, including asking friend Martin Berry to draft a contract scope that went to Berry’s own firm.
- The watchdog tallied $344 million spent on contingent workers under Manning, including one worker paid about $644,000 a year, with some costs drawn from project budgets to mask recruitment spending.
- ICAC referred Manning to the NSW DPP to consider charges such as misconduct in public office and giving false evidence, and it referred Martin Berry and Wendy O’Brien for possible prosecution.
- The commission issued 16 reforms for the NSW government that call for audits of recent spending, better red‑flag systems, and clearer guidelines to stop repeat failures that left some communities short of new schools.