Former CEO of CIT who engaged in 'serious corrupt conduct' received $465,000 payout

Shocking revelations have come to light in Estimates hearings today following questions from Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee, that the disgraced former CEO of the CIT, Ms Leanne Cover, received a payout of more than $465,000 when she was allowed to resign from the position on the eve of the explosive Integrity Commission report being tabled.

This is on top of the two years of full salary she was paid whilst being stood down from the position which cost Canberra taxpayers an additional $373,000 a year. Canberra taxpayers have also been paying for a second CEO being paid the same amount during that period.

“It is disgraceful that Ms Cover who was found by the Integrity Commissioner to have engaged in ‘serious corrupt conduct’ has been paid over $1.2 million by Canberra taxpayers,” Ms Lee said.

“Canberrans have every right to be absolutely outraged by this; whilst at the same time the Minister has thrown his hands in the air and said he and his government have no accountability.

"No one has taken any accountability for the massive waste of taxpayers’ money and erosion of public trust – not the Minister, not the CIT Board, and certainly not Ms Cover who was allowed to remain on fully paid leave and then received a massive payout; all funded by ACT taxpayers.

“Despite the strong talk from Mr Steel that the Integrity Commission findings regarding the dodgy CIT contracts should serve as a warning to public servants, the reality is that his complete and utter lack of action shows he is once again refusing to take these issues seriously.

“It was also revealed in an earlier hearing with the Integrity Commissioner that he advised the CIT Board that they could have continued to proceed with their internal processes whilst his investigation was ongoing which they refused to do.

"Mr Steel is taking Canberrans for a ride and taxpayers are footing the exorbitant bill, all during a cost of living crisis," Ms Lee concluded.