ICAC to hold public inquiry into allegations concerning School Infrastructure NSW

Wednesday 2 April 2025

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will hold a public inquiry starting on Monday 5 May 2025 as part of an investigation it is conducting into allegations concerning former School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW) chief executive Anthony Manning, staff and contractors (Operation Landan).

The Commission is investigating whether, between 2017 and about 2024, Mr Manning and other SINSW staff or contractors partially exercised their official functions by:

• intentionally subverting appropriate recruitment practices to benefit friends and business associates
• improperly awarding contracts to friends and business associates
• misallocating funds from school projects to favour particular businesses and to fund consultancy positions for friends and business associates.

The ICAC is also investigating whether Mr Manning, then human resource strategic advisor Wendy O’Brien, and others, dishonestly exercised their official function by taking reprisal action against certain staff following complaints or public interest disclosures at SINSW.

The general scope and purpose of this public inquiry is to gather evidence relevant to the allegations being investigated for the purpose of determining the matters referred to in section 13(2) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988.

Commissioner Paul Lakatos SC will preside at the public inquiry, and Counsel Assisting the Commission will be Mr Jamie Darams SC and Mr Dan Fuller of Counsel. 

The public inquiry will start at 10:00 am and will be held in the Commission's hearing room on Level 7, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. The inquiry is set down for up to six weeks. Members of the media and the public may view the proceedings on the Commission’s premises, or via the live stream on the ICAC website.

Further details about how to access the live stream will be provided closer to the inquiry commencement date.