The director of a company locked in a dispute over a cancelled contract with the Canberra Institute of Technology, has told the ACT Supreme Court he was encouraged by CIT's executive to talk up his firm's capabilities. The controversial contract has already seen the resignation of the institute's CEO after an internal review and an integrity commission report.
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00:00Applied complexity science. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but Patrick Hollingworth
00:08told the court he stands by his claims he's a world leader in the field. He'd been working
00:14with the CIT for some years, until eyebrows were raised over a $5 million contract in
00:202022. Then-Skills Minister Chris Steele began asking questions, including seeking an explanation
00:28of Thinkgarden's jargon. The ABC also revealed the company had received more than $8 million
00:35in contracts since 2018. The board set up a review, and the CIT chief executive, Leanne
00:42Cover, stepped aside, later resigning, just as the ACT's Integrity Commission released
00:49a damning report finding her guilty of corrupt conduct for failing to consult the board about
00:55the contracts, and deliberately concealing details. The Commission made no findings
01:01against Mr Hollingworth, who's now trying to get his money. Today he was quizzed by
01:06lawyers for the CIT about his tender for the job, including claims he was a global expert.
01:13Mr Hollingworth said that was true at the time, adding,
01:17We were encouraged by the CIT executive to talk ourselves up a bit. I'm a relatively
01:23humble person. We were encouraged to project ourselves like that.
01:28The case is quite simple. Patrick Hollingworth is claiming a breach of contract, saying more
01:33than $3 million is still owing. The CIT says there's been no breach, because the termination
01:41was within the contract. The case will continue tomorrow.