A deputy commissioner for the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) was fired for uncovering widespread rorting by a senior colleague who was a close friend of the organisation's chief, a corruption inquiry has heard.
Tara McCarthy was hired as deputy commissioner, focusing on governance for the NSW SES, in late 2012.
Just nine months later she was fired by Commissioner Murray Kear, the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) heard in its latest inquiry on Tuesday.
Her sacking was in reprisal for making allegations that Steven Pearce, also a SES deputy commissioner, had engaged in corrupt conduct, counsel assisting the commission Michael Fordham said in his opening address.
Ms McCarthy allegedly discovered Mr Pearce had granted a friend and co-worker almost $60,000 in overtime payments, had used SES credit cards for personal modifications to a work vehicle and had signed generous contracts without a tender.
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ICAC heard the contracts were worth between $400,000 and $500,000.
Mr Kear is also being investigated by the ICAC.
It's alleged he never made it clear that he and Mr Pearce were friends, despite sitting in on his interview for the SES before eventually hiring him.
The two men had worked together in the NSW Fire and Rescue Service and knew each other since at least 2006, Mr Fordham said.
In an email read during the opening remarks, Mr Pearce described Mr Kear as "a very authentic mate and a good boss".
These reasons were, "probably the two major reasons I left the firies that I love".
ICAC also heard the men's families holidayed together.
Mr Kear is further accused of misleading the ICAC by saying he had investigated Ms McCarthy's claims and found there was no need for additional inquiries.
"It is apparent from the way in which she was terminated that Ms McCarthy wasn't given any real opportunity to respond to any termination," Mr Fordham said.
"There were never any competence or performance issues arising out of Ms McCarthy's employment.
"Commissioner Kear has confirmed this in writing."
The inquiry, which is expected to last two weeks, continues before Commissioner David Ipp.
