A major contractor on the Western Sydney Airport Metro project has been terminated after a probity investigation into supply chains.
The investigation's findings have been referred to police and integrity agencies.
A Ministerial Direction has been issued to the independent board of Sydney Metro requiring that all future subcontracting is carried out under strict compliance prior to any settlement of claims on the project.
In December 2022, the former Liberal-National Government awarded the largest ever Public Private Partnership contract in NSW to Parklife Metro, known as the Stations, Systems, Trains, Operations and Maintenance contract.
Sydney Metro commissioned the contracting investigation in September 2025 after media reports of potential criminal activity and workplace breaches at Western Sydney Airport Metro.
Initiated under the terms of the project's contract, the investigation by Max Kimber SC has made several significant findings about Future Form Civil Pty Ltd and numerous downstream contractors it engaged.
These include the suspected underpayment of workers, inadequate insurance coverage and tax fraud.
From July 2024, Future Form was engaged by Webuild under four subcontracts for formwork, reinforcing and concrete pouring services, as well as the provision of construction workers.
Future Form then sourced labour from downstream contractors for which it did not obtain approval for or disclose as required.
Due to its complex contractual chain, the investigator believes Future Form was unable to track who was on site, the work they were performing and how much they were being paid.
This includes an inability to verify basic details on invoices worth more than $10 million.
Mr Kimber found at least one worker was asked to come to site to be paid "cash in the hand" before having money transferred to his bank account by an unknown subcontractor.
Text evidence shows the man was instructed to say he was working directly for Future Form, not the unnamed subcontractor.
An email claims "some other workers are on social benefits and working for cash".
The confidential Kimber report also details a number of labour supply companies were incorporated within days of each other and to the same residential address.
The companies had the same director and secretary and sent invoices and verifying material to Future Form over the Signal app, through which messages later self-delete and erase all information.
The report also flagged potential insurance fraud by at least one contractor, with significant discrepancies between its notification to iCare and its payroll records.
Mr Kimber noted key individuals from subcontracting organisations refused to cooperate with his investigation.
His report is being referred to agencies which have the power to compel witnesses and documents.
These include:
- NSW Police
- NSW Crime Commission
- Independent Commission Against Corruption
- National Anti-Corruption Commission
- Fair Work Ombudsman
- Australian Tax Office
- Revenue NSW
As operating company on the Western Sydney Airport Metro project, Parklife Metro has now removed Future Form and all its downstream contractors.
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
"We will not tolerate any impropriety on our building sites, including such an important and generational project as Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport.
"The disturbing findings of investigator Max Kimber SC will now be put in the hands of the right agencies with the coercive powers to investigate this matter fully.
"The Liberals were convinced that public-private partnerships were the best model for projects like this, but we are concerned it has privatised the profit, socialised the risk and kept probity as private as possible.
"I have issued a Ministerial Direction which makes clear to the directors of Sydney Metro that the NSW Government expects this to be fixed."
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:
"The public is right to demand that anyone working on a taxpayer funded project, big or small, always follows the law and follows the rules. Regardless of whether they are the head-contractor, or a sub-contractor.
"Expect this Government to act when and wherever suspect behaviour surfaces in our $130 billion infrastructure program.
"All members of the infrastructure and construction industries must do the same."
