Defence failed to properly investigate bribery allegations against Australian navy contractor officials, audit finds

Poor management of contracts worth more than $3.5bn has led to critical failures, including during a Vanuatu cyclone humanitarian operation, the ANAO says

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Defence officials failed to properly document and investigate bribery allegations made against navy contractor officials, a scathing audit report on the multibillion-dollar commissioning and maintenance of two military ships has found.

Defence also determined a senior official involved in finding a supplier to take on a $700m maintenance and upkeep contract - who took a job offer with the winning contractor in the middle of the process - did not give rise to a conflict of interest.