Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell has revealed Scott Briggs, a close friend of Scott Morrison, was given a contract without tender to establish private quarantine centres for skilled migrants across the country.
“Scott Briggs is a regular at the Lodge and lobbyist about town in Canberra: he and Scott Morrison attend Cronulla Sharks games together,” Mr Clennell said. “David Gazard is another one tight with Mr Morrison, who is Scott Briggs’ business partner.
“Lobbying, of course, is a legal activity, but there was controversy two years ago when Scott Briggs was in the running with a consortium for a $2 billion visa processing contract which he then pulled out of, and which ultimately failed; controversy because he was so close to the PM.
“And controversy again here with Mr Briggs and Mr Gazard given $80,000 by the Department of Home Affairs to scope out a private quarantine system to replace the state-run quarantine system once skilled migrants and international students came into the country.
“This $80,000 was given without tender as the Department of Home Affairs admitted in Senate Estimates in October.”