In March 2022, the AFP’s Sensitive Investigation Oversight Board approved Operation Bernie, which is investigating whether private company Canstruct was involved in corporate wrongdoing.
Financial data, internal emails and whistleblower testimony implicate all three of Home Affairs’ lead contractors – Broadspectrum, Canstruct and Paladin – in suspected systemic misuse of taxpayer dollars in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
Sources who are also not authorised to speak publicly have confirmed that the AFP is separately investigating Paladin’s alleged bribery of PNG politicians in order to secure work permits and visas as it managed offshore processing for Home Affairs on Manus Island. A spokesperson for Dutton said he had not solicited any donations from Canstruct or its executives. Canstruct has previously dismissed any link between donations and its contracts.
“Canstruct International made almost $52 million in profit from the Nauru contract in 2017-18,” Dreyfus said at the time. “In 2018-19, it made a $91.5 million profit. In 2019-20, its profit was $130 million. It looks like yet another example of the Liberal and National parties using public money like it is Liberal Party money and helping out their mates.”
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