CCC has eyes on scandal at Healthway
The Healthway saga has deepened with revelations the Corruption and Crime Commission is delving deeper into the affairs of the beleaguered agency, raising the spectre of charges.
Ditching its reluctance to reveal its cases, the CCC confirmed its involvement hours after Premier Colin Barnett declared: "I don't think the issue has ended."
A damning Public Sector Commission report last week found Healthway procured thousands of tickets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of sponsorship deals, many which flowed to senior staff, board members and their families.
The scandal prompted chairwoman Rosanna Capolingua to resign on Monday and other board members have followed after Mr Barnett called on them to quit in the name of renewal and declared the report uncovered "a misuse of public funds".
Yesterday, the CCC revealed it was involved as far back as September 14 when it approved a "co-operative investigation with the PSC in relation to Healthway".
Under its Act, the CCC can "investigate or take action in co-operation with an independent agency". It said yesterday its inquiry was into "Healthway-related matters that are beyond the jurisdiction of the PSC".
Also yesterday, Health Minister Kim Hames tabled a previously confidential deed over the departure of former Healthway executive director David Malone, who resigned a week before the PSC report was released.
Mr Malone, who had 3½ years to go on his contract, left with a $226,000 payout - a year's pay and entitlements. The deed bound Mr Malone and Healthway officers against making adverse comment about the other.
It also compelled Dr Capolingua to give Mr Malone a reference that described him as "able to quickly understand and articulate issues and concepts that are new to him".
It limited Healthway's response to the media about his departure to a pre-written statement saying he had left to pursue new career opportunities.
Dr Hames said the payout was in line with normal public sector conditions.
'I don't think the issue has ended.'" Premier *Colin Barnett *
