Union responds after public servants labelled ‘oxygen thieves’ during ICAC proceedings

During Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) proceedings, it was revealed that a former top boss within School Infrastructure NSW referred to public servants as “oxygen thieves”.

As previously reported by HR Leader’s sister brand, Accounting Times, former School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW) executive Anthony Manning is going through proceedings in the ICAC for allegedly engaging friends and business associates in government contracts, leading to massive blowouts for public school projects across the state.

The allegations are based between April 2017 and February 2024, when – under Manning’s direction – SINSW spent over $344 million taxpayer dollars on over 1,400 contract workers.

“It is not obvious why an employee could not have been engaged, and where it is not apparent that any attempt was made to do so. Most were paid well in excess of what an equivalent employee would have been paid,” ICAC alleged.

Irregular employment decisions were made throughout Manning’s tenure as chief executive, with one instance being a woman contracted at a rate of $1,450 per day to provide investor assurance services to SINSW.

Last week, the ICAC hearing – which began back in May – featured Manning fronting the commission for the first time.

During the proceedings, text messages between Manning and friend Ioan Morgan highlighted the discontent between Manning and the Minns government at the time back in 2023.

As reported by The Age, the messages revealed that Manning was frustrated with the newly elected Labor government’s decision to cut down on the hiring of contingent workers.

“Yes, there is a consultant beat up process going on through the new government,” said Manning on 16 May 2023 to Morgan.

Morgan agreed, replying: “Bloody lefties!!” to which Manning replied the following remark: “Yep – more public servants – just what we need to grind the state to a halt – oxygen thieves the lot of them”.

According to The Age, Manning claimed the message was a “flippant remark between friends”.

Despite this, the Public Service Association (PSA), which represents public sector workers across NSW, released a statement on the remarks – labelling them as “disparaging”.

“The PSA is aware of the disparaging remarks about public servants aired in the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) last week …,” it said.

“The PSA strongly disputes this untrue characterisation of our hard-working members and will continue to support and champion you.

“Public servants keep the state of NSW running smoothly in times good and bad.

“PSA members have been on the frontline, in many different roles, as the state has been rocked by floods, bushfire, drought and a deadly pandemic. Without PSA members, we would not have access to the essential services that make NSW a wonderful place to live and work.”