No answers from Cook Government months after ‘Cash for Coffin Cheaters’ scandal exposed

The Cook Government has no answer as to why it awarded a multi-million-dollar contract for Perth Motorplex upgrades to a company with bikie links, more than two months after The West exposed its connection to the Coffin Cheaters motorcycle gang. Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti was left red faced in early December when it was revealed that the $5 million VenuesWest tender for a new drag strip at the race track had been awarded to Eastside Concrete, a respected company linked to senior bikie Benjamin David Ortin. Ms Saffioti was forced to defend the decision while under attack from the Opposition in parliament. “VenuesWest is seeking advice from the Western Australia Police Force in relation to the nature of that relationship,” she said. “VenuesWest will then act after receiving the advice from WA police.” More than two months on from the scandal, both Ms Saffioti and VenuesWest have taken no action, and can’t provide any updates on the investigation. Shadow Police Minister Adam Hort said the government should not be allowing taxpayer funds to fall into the hands of businesses linked with bikies. “The Opposition started asking questions in December whether any taxpayer funds have gone to any businesses linked to bikie gangs. It is now February and Rita Saffioti still can’t answer the question,” he said. “The longer the Government refuses to front up, the worse this looks for public confidence in procurement and integrity. “Is it too much to expect that the government would liaise with the Police and keep a list of businesses that shouldn’t profit from taxpayers’ money due to their links to organised crime? No it’s not.” Mrs Saffioti said the government was still seeking legal advice but couldn’t say when any action was expected. “This is one of those issues where you have to ensure that you protect the taxpayers ultimately,” she said “That’s why we’re making sure we get the best legal advice and also advice from the procurement of finance.” Mr Ortin was for years a director of Eastside’s parent company, Nitro Works, which remains registered at a Gidgegannup property the 47-year-old owns with Julianne Kathleen Mackey. Ms Mackey is a current director of Nitro Works, alongside Jesse-Jade Ortin. The Motorplex contract is one of Eastside’s highest-profile jobs and the venue is well known to Mr Ortin. The Kwinana complex has a storied history with WA’s underworld, most notoriously because of the 2020 assassination of Rebels chief Nick Martin. In 2010 the Coffin Cheaters clashed with the Finks in a bloody track-side fight which left one Fink nursing a bullet wound and another looking for three fingers that had been cut off. Mr Ortin was involved in that fight, which was triggered by the Finks decision to patch up exiled Cheater Troy Mercanti. Detectives enlisted the Corruption and Crime Commission to try to break the bikie code of silence which was impeding the investigation. Mr Ortin was hauled into the CCC’s so-called star chamber to answer questions and when he refused to talk he was charged with “failing to answer truthfully a question relevant to an investigation”. The case against Mr Ortin and fellow Cheater David Jon Reid was later dropped.