Operation Kingfisher

Operation Kingfisher is an investigation into whether public officials within the ACT Education Directorate failed to exercise their official functions honestly and/or impartially when making recommendations and decisions regarding the Campbell Primary School Modernisation Project between 2019 and 2020.

Following the finalisation of litigation against the Commission on 20 February 2026 by Mr David Ferguson, a witness in Operation Kingfisher, by discontinuing his action, the Commission released its proposed investigation report to affected parties on 27 February 2026.

Three separate legal actions have been brought against the Commission by Kingfisher witnesses, with all matters resolved in favour of the Commission and/or withdrawn by the plaintiffs since the commencement of this investigation.

As part of the procedural fairness process, the Integrity Commission Act requires that a minimum of 6 weeks is given to the affected parties to respond to the proposed report.

The Commission must then consider any comments received, including any requests from relevant parties seeking additional time to respond.

The Integrity Commission Act also requires non-disclosure notices to be issued to each person receiving the proposed report, which prohibits any further distribution of the report to unauthorised persons.

We held public examinations into Operation Kingfisher in December 2023. Further information can be found in our initial media release.

September 2023

Thursday 10 August 2023

Suppression Orders

Daily transcripts of the Commission’s public examinations will be made publicly available on the Commission’s website.

Monday 4 December - Thursday 7 December 2023

  • Katy Haire – Director-General, ACT Education Directorate (December 2019 – present)
  • Hon Yvette Berry MLA - Minister for Education and Youth Affairs (November 2020 – current)
  • Mr David Matthews – Executive Group Manager, Business Services, ACT Education Directorate (February 2018 – February 2020) and Deputy Director-General, ACT Education Directorate (February 2020 – September 2021)
  • Ms Kelly Young – Senior Projects Manager, Major Projects Canberra (from 2016- present)
  • Mr John Green (a pseudonym)

Friday 29 September 2023

  • Katy Haire - Director-General, ACT Education Directorate (December 2019 – present)

Thursday 28 September 2023

  • Mark Bauer - CEO and General Manager of Manteena Group (General Manager: 2003 – current; CEO: 2021 – current)
  • Dylan Blom - Senior Director for Education and Major Projects, ACT Education Directorate (2019 – current)
  • Duncan Edghill – Director-General, Chief Projects Officer, Major Projects Canberra (1 July 2019 to 31 January 2023)
  • Katy Haire – Director-General, ACT Education Directorate (December 2019 – present)

Wednesday 27 September 2023

  • Mark Bauer - CEO and General Manager of Manteena Group (General Manager: 2003 – current; CEO: 2021 – current)
  • Dylan Blom - Senior Director for Education and Major Projects, ACT Education Directorate (2019 – current)

Friday 8 September 2023

  • Hon Yvette Berry MLA - Minister for Education and Youth Affairs (November 2020 – current)
  • Rebecca Cross -  Acting Director-General, ACT Education Directorate (21 February 2020 to 12 March 2020)

Thursday 7 September 2023

  • John Green (a pseudonym)
  • Zachary Smith - Branch Assistant Secretary, ACT Divisional Branch, Construction and General Division, Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (June 2018 to August 2021)
  • Jason O'Mara - Secretary, ACT Divisional Branch, Construction and General Division, Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (February 2018 to February 2022)

Wednesday 6 September 2023

  • John Green (a pseudonym)

Friday 11 August 2023

  • John Green (a pseudonym)

Thursday 10 August 2023

  • John Green (a pseudonym)