On Sunday our reader Marmion sent this email to the Inquiry

Sent: Sunday, 27 September 2020 9:53 AM
To: 'Contact Quarantine Inquiry (Quarantine Inquiry)' <[email protected]>
Subject: Cost to Government of the Security contracts - action if fraud suspected
Importance: High

Dear Emily,

Ms Ellyard, Counsel Assisting the Inquiry examined Mr Phemister closely on the number of security guards stood up by each security company and the hourly rates they were paid and the rates they paid their staff.

She noted Unified Security stood up 1754 staff were paid the highest hourly rates plus meal allowances (sounds like Union thinking) and they were given more work than the other Security Companies.

She said the Board of Inquiry would be looking at the various payment schedules “in their fullest detail.”

With news reports that Unified were paid between $30 to $44 million and if the figures do not add up, one hopes, the Board, in its final report, will recommend the Government and relevant authorities take action, if any fraud against the State is suspected.

All the best,

ENDS

Marmion points out that on Monday, counsel assisting the Inquiry made the following submission:

At pages 2196 – 97:

“There will be no suggestion from those assisting you that those engaged in setting up this program worked other than with the best of intent and to the best of their ability.

Bad faith or corruption is not what the evidence shows.”

Over the course of the next few days we'll take a very close look at that assertion.