Source : the age
The former boss of the NSW government’s school building unit, Anthony Manning, was sacked from his previous job in the health department because of concerns his “isolationist” leadership style was having a negative impact on the organisation, the anti-corruption watchdog has heard.
On Friday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption heard evidence from Sam Sangster, the chief executive of Health Infrastructure NSW from 2013 to 2018, who was Manning’s boss until early 2017.
Former NSW schools infrastructure chief, Anthony Manning, is the subject of the ICAC’s latest blockbuster inquiry.Credit: Janie Barrett
ICAC is investigating allegations Manning and others within School Infrastructure NSW subverted recruitment practices, improperly awarded contracts and misallocated funds to favour friends and associates between 2017 and 2024.
During his evidence, Sangster described Manning as an “innovative and thoughtful strategic leader” who had worked on a wide range of “very complex projects” for the health agency. But, he said, he was concerned about his “isolationist” style and a perceived unwillingness to be “part of a broader team”.
He said while Manning seemed well-liked by people within his team, views were “mixed” in the broader organisation.
“Some appreciated his capability, but not necessarily how he interacted with them sometimes,” he said.
Manning could be “quite short, or quite curt with people”, he said.
“Rather than being collaborative or having a conversation, saying, ‘This is how I’m doing it,’” he said.
The inquiry, now in its third week, has previously heard evidence Manning was hired as the first chief executive of School Infrastructure NSW without asking Sangster for a reference. His name was put forward by then NSW education minister Rob Stokes as “someone worth investigating” and his referees included former premier Mike Baird and former health minister Jillian Skinner.
But other witnesses have described issues between Manning and other senior officials after he was appointed to the schools job. The current education secretary, Murat Dizdar, said Manning could be “helpful” and “thoughtful” colleague, but he also had a “sharp” and “direct” manner, which left some colleagues “bruised”.
Witnesses including former education secretary Georgina Harrisson have told the inquiry Manning resisted repeated efforts to cut down on how much the agency was spending on contractors, and that it was difficult to get information out of his unit.
Sangster said he would have given “similar” feedback to that provided to the inquiry.
The inquiry had previously heard Manning and Sangster had a “falling out” while working together, but the latter said that was not accurate, and he had no “personal animus” towards his former colleague.
“I don’t think we actually had a falling out, we agreed to disagree,” he said.
Sangster said he sacked Manning after what he said were multiple attempts to have him change his style, saying he felt he had “exhausted the level of conversation I thought reasonable and rational”.
“I couldn’t see a change in behaviour, and formed the view the behaviour wasn’t going to change.”
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