Former Berry staffer seeks declaration conduct was not corrupt

The former ministerial chief of staff at the centre of a major Integrity Commission investigation has taken the watchdog to court, seeking a declaration his conduct was not corrupt.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

or signup to continue reading

Joshua Ceramidas has launched Federal Court action against the commission, arguing the findings of serious corrupt conduct in the handling of a primary school upgrade contract were not supported by evidence.

Joshua Ceramidas, pictured in 2013. Picture by Melissa Adams

An amended originating application filed on behalf of Mr Ceramidas alleged the findings were affected by jurisdictional error because they were not supported by the evidence and were also irrational, illogical or unreasonable.

The commission's findings that Mr Ceramidas acted at the behest of or in the interests of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union's (CFMEU) ACT branch, that he had a "close relationship with the union" and strongly backed the union's position and intended to help it succeed were among those Mr Ceramidas' claim said were not supported by evidence.

The claim also argued the Integrity Commission's finding Mr Ceramidas' actions constituted a criminal offence was wrong because the commission misconstrued or misunderstood elements of the offence and asked itself the wrong questions.

Mr Ceramidas "acted in his own interest for the purpose of currying favour with the CFMEU", did not disclose his actions to Ms Berry and lied to the territory's corruption watchdog, the Operation Kingfisher report said.

Mr Ceramidas wants the court to declare the corruption findings were affected by jurisdictional errors and his conduct did not amount to corrupt conduct or serious corrupt conduct.

The case was listed for mention on October 16.

The acting head of the ACT public service, Russ Campbell, on Wednesday confirmed Mr Ceramidas was no longer a territory employee.

"It is not appropriate to comment further because of pending legal proceedings relating to his employment," Mr Campbell said in a statement.

"The territory is not funding any legal costs for Mr Ceramidas' challenge to the Integrity Commission's report."

Attorney-General Tara Cheyne last week told the Legislative Assembly she had received a request to intervene in the Federal Court matter but had declined.

The commission released its long-awaited Operation Kingfisher report in July, having also found the former head of the Education Directorate, Katy Haire, had engaged in serious corrupt conduct.

"Not only was the process itself improperly skewed, resulting in manifest unfairness and also, as it happened, substantially increased cost, but both Ms Haire and Mr Ceramidas undertook a calculated attempt to cover up the truth of what occurred," the report said.

"Accordingly, the corrupt conduct of each amounted to serious corrupt conduct."

Ms Haire resigned from her post as the director-general of the Education Directorate in 2024.

While the corruption watchdog cannot rule whether corruption amounts to a criminal offence, Integrity Commissioner Michael Adams KC's report noted Mr Ceramidas' actions could constitute the offences of abusing public office and conspiracy to defraud.

The findings prompted Yvette Berry, whom Mr Ceramidas worked for from 2016 before joining the ACT public service, to resign from cabinet. No findings were made against Ms Berry.

More from Public Service