The family of a whistleblower who exposed a former Bendigo Health construction manager’s deception, is calling for a report by the state’s Independent Broad Based Anti-corruption Commission to be released.
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The call comes after former manager Adam Hardinge this week walked away with a $15,000 fine and was ordered to pay $5000 to the Bendigo Health Foundation after pleading guilty in the Bendigo Magistrate’s Court to nine theft and deception charges. A further 21 charges were dropped.
Hardinge was found to have misappropriated $28,742.69 worth of building materials and equipment belonging to the hospital between May, 2012, and March, 2015.
The crimes were committed while Hardinge was employed to manage demolition works on the new Bendigo hospital site.
Hardinge was charged in July this year after whistleblowers first raised concerns with Bendigo Health in November, 2014.
Following an independent investigation by the health service, the matter was referred to Victoria Police, with IBAC taking over the investigation in January, 2015.
The whistleblower’s family says the penalty does nothing to encourage others to come forward and call out corruption. “This wasn’t just a theft, it was far bigger, far more personal… these people (the whistleblowers) were under enormous stress,’’ a family spokesperson said.
The family wants the IBAC report released and to meet with state health minister, Jill Hennessy.
They say they will never get answers unless the report is released and the minister reassures them she will take action based on the findings.
An IBAC spokesperson said the organisation was “not in a position to comment on this matter at this time’’.
The family is also outraged the company now employing Mr Hardinge has been contracted to carry out further demolition works at the new Bendigo hospital site.
The Bendigo Advertiser understands Mr Hardinge is not permitted to enter the site.
The family has issued a statement to the Bendigo Advertiser, which reads:
The recent conviction and fine imposed upon a former Bendigo Health construction manager has disappointed the family of a whistleblower, who along withothers brought the manager’s illegal activity to light.
Adam Hardinge walked away with just a fine after a lengthy investigation by the state’s independent anti-corruption watchdog. Mr Hardinge plead guilty to only nine theft and deception charges pertaining to the theft and exploitation of public funds. Mr Hardinge had 21 charges brought against him dropped, and escaped a jail term.
This light sentence was such a disappointment.
I am angered by the outcome. It took many years to bring this corruption to the court. It took a lot of work plus significant tax payers’ money for the IBAC investigation.
Tax payers and the public should be angry.
With such a lenient punishment awarded to Mr Hardinge, it is very easy to see how this corruption continued in government departments and the building and construction industry.
Many people knew and for their own reasons chose not to speak.
Whilstleblowing is a dangerous undertaking. To expose such corruption, there is the potential for some adversity, discrimination, demotion, retaliation and sacking.
No one in their right mind would take this enormous risk to their job, career and health to stop corruption. There is no guarantee of a conviction in some cases – so it is understandable that some individuals may have been too nervous to do so.
But thankfully a few did risk it. A few brave and courageous employees didn’t turn a blind eye. These individuals who showed integrity and bravery and couldn’t ignore the illegal activity they knew about and witnessed for such a long period of time. They had no choice but to do the right thing.
Although Mr Hardinge has been brought to some justice, it is disappointing that the other charges against him were dropped as part of the legal process. Hopefully the IBAC report will address some of these.
Mr Hardinge held a senior position of power at Bendigo Health. He showed a lack of integrity and most importantly the people skills to manage staff in a safe and proper manner. He made the workplace a very toxic environment and staff morale was very low.
For the staff and colleagues of Bendigo Health that endured Mr Hardinge’s behaviour, it seems like an insult to hear references to his ‘otherwise’ good character during the legal proceedings.
The systemic corruption over many years caused by Mr Hardinge does not depict a person of ‘otherwise’ good character. This was not a one-off offence.
Victorian Health minister Jill Hennessy stated in the Bendigo Advertiser on July 16, that she had low tolerance for anyone found guilty of exploiting public funds. Ms Hennessy also stated her department and Bendigo Health could both have lessons to learn from the investigation.
I feel the public, staff of Bendigo Health and decent individuals that brought this corruption to an end must be made confident that Bendigo Health will learn many lessons relating to how this corruption was allowed to happen, how it was handled and how the findings in the IBAC report will be implemented in the future.
The whistleblowers who put the good of the organisation first, before their own well-being, should be commended. They showed great integrity. Not that they did it for recognition, but rather to bring an end to the corruption that had such a terrible effect on their working environment, plus the risk to the reputation of the organisation they worked for.
We are fortunate to have IBAC and their report. They take seriously the impact corruption has on organisations. They understand the financial loss to public funds and also the damaging effects and impact corruption has on those who witness and uncover corruption. It also ruins workplace morale and safety.
As a manager, Mr Hardinge abused a position of power.
It would be more appropriate if the term whistleblower was changed to ‘moral hero’.
The nine charges on which Hardinge was convicted are:
- Between May 2012 and July 2013 Hardinge instructed staff members to have cheques valued at $14,824.50 for scrap metal sold to a business in Bendigo made out to his family trust, rather than to Bendigo Health which owned the steel.
- Between January 2012 and March 2015 Hardinge stole approximately 2000 heritage bricks valued at $2000 belonging to Bendigo Health, half of which he installed as pavers at a property he owned.
- Between March 2012 and March 2015 Hardinge stole door jambs valued at $1006.05 from Bendigo Health, which were also installed at a property he owned.
- Between March 2012 and March 2014 Hardinge instructed Bendigo Health staff to take insulation bats valued at $3183.80 from the hospital site to a property belonging to him.
- Between February 2012 and March 2015 Hardinge also stole timber decking and galvanised steel mesh valued at $6485.98 and $402.60 respectively.
- Between May 2014 and September 2014 Hardinge stole a Milwaukee heated jacket and charger from Bendigo Health which he gifted to the owner of a cafe on the work site, who has since returned the items to the hospital.
- In August 2014 Hardinge also stole removal cartons valued at $90.91 belonging to Bendigo Health.
- Between August 2014 and September 2014 Hardinge attempted to obtain cleaning services valued at $512.50 for a property occupied by his girlfriend, but that invoice was never paid.
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