Phil's going for broke

RED Rock businessman Phil Clare claims he has found evidence NSW Health bureaucrats would rather send his company broke than pay close to $3 million for work his company has completed for area health services around the State.

Earlier this week Mr Clare, the owner of Intheshed Asset Management (ITSAM), was in negotiation with a procurement officer from one of the health services when he alluded to an email from the chief procurement officer from NSW Health, David Gates.

The "highly confidential" email from Mr Gates to all area health services warned them not to pay any ITSAM invoices and that NSW Health would handle anything to do the company.

When Mr Clare requested a copy of this email, he was told it was highly confidential and if released would cost this person his job.

Mr Clare said this information contradicted advice from NSW Health, requesting him to seek payment of outstanding invoices from each area health service.

Since 2009, ITSAM has been trying to get payment from NSW Health for work it had done.

In 2010 the company was paid for work completed on the Royal North Shore re-development, but only at a massive discount and after he signed a deed of mutual release which forbade the release of the financial details of the arrangement.

"Now I've found the smoking gun, I know where I stand with NSW Health," Mr Clare said.

"David Gates told me to wait until early April, when he will have an answer for me.

"Now I can see they're just trying to send us broke, so we go away."

A debt collection agency, Kaizen Enterprises, acting for ITSAM, has written to Mr Gates requesting payment in full by yesterday.

ITSAM won contracts with NSW Health and area health services all over the State to dispose of surplus assets.

In the terms of reference of the contracts, ITSAM was requested to report on asset management.

Mr Clare said his reports revealed massive waste of assets and horrendous non-compliance with health and safety regulations.

A week ago Mr Clare filed a complaint with the NSW Ombudsman over the issue of asbestos in Royal North Shore and Manly hospitals.

He said the Ombudsman appointed a case manager to look into his complaints and he was in contact with her yesterday.

The Daily Examiner has sighted a number of documents and email exchanges which back up Mr Clare's claims.