MBIE chief admits ministry was wrong to withhold cancelled $35m IT project from MPs

MBIE chief executive Nic Blakeley told the Privileges Committee the ministry "got things wrong" by not disclosing the cancelled $35 million Biometric Capability Update to MPs in March. Blakeley acknowledged a confidential parliamentary hearing with the public removed was available to disclose the cancellation without compromising commercial negotiations with vendor NEC, and accepted not using it was a failing.