Revelations from Victoria's inquiry sounds like a '1930s mobster movie': Credlin

Sky News host Peta Credlin says the Coate Inquiry can't be taken seriously when an "obviously suspect contract" has been left almost entirely unprobed.

"It's a matter of public record, that Unified Security - the outfit that got the $30 million job to run hotel quarantine in just six hours flat - is also a provider to the transport operator Metro Trains now under investigation for corrupt conduct," she said.

"I'm not saying there is a link beyond the same security company – Unified Security - being involved in rail contracts and hotel quarantine contracts," she said.

"But what I am saying is that in both of the areas where Unified is involved, the probity of contracts is under scrutiny."

Ms Credlin said Victoria's Jobs Department - run by Martin Pakula - was and still is the only major government department in the state that had not made its procurement compliant with new probity processes that were supposed to be in place 18 months ago.

"Yet this is the department that the Premier – and his now former departmental chief Chris Eccles - put in charge of running all of Victoria's COVID contracts," she said.

"A $30 million deal with a provider that was not on the preferred list, and was run by someone with a history of failed businesses, and multi-million dollar debts.

"Yet in my view, the inquiry failed to adequately grill Jobs Department head Simon Phemister on this contract that he signed; and failed to call the head of Unified Security who had negotiated it.

"Honestly, it sounds like something from a 1930s mobster movie but this is happening right now, here in Victoria."

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