Axed Contractor Rejects Sydney Airport Megaproject Report Accusations

Parklife Metro was awarded the Stations, Systems, Trains, Operations and Maintenance (SSTOM) contract in 2022. 

The 15-year agreement was inked to deliver six new stations, 12 driverless trains and 23km of new lines connecting the airport with the wider Metro network, as well as operation and maintenance of the line.

Valued at nearly $4 billion, it was the biggest contract assigned by Sydney Metro—and the biggest public-private partnership in NSW.

WeBuild signed Sydney-based Future Form Civil for four contracts, covering formwork, reinforcing and concrete pouring services, as well as the provision of construction workers. 

▲ The wider project will add stations in the section between the St Marys interchange and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis station.

Sydney Metro was made aware of allegations of potential unlawful behaviour by Future Form Civil in early March 2025, according to NSW parliamentary reports.

The situation came to a head in late 2025, when media reports alleged the formwork specialist had covered up a worker exploitation scandal and engaged in misconduct, which had been flagged by the CFMEU.

In September 2025, Sydney Metro advised Parklife Metro that it would begin a probity investigation into the new allegations.

Kimber leads Future Form investigation

Following the reports of potential criminal activity and workplace breaches late last year, Sydney Metro launched its investigation led by Max Kimber SC, a Sydney-based barrister and mediator.

Its initial findings have now been released, although the report itself is confidential.

In the findings, Kimber said that Future Form was unable to track who was on its Metro project sites, what work they were performing or how much they were being paid. 

Kimber said that the company was unable to verify basic details on invoices worth more than $10 million. 

While subcontracting was not uncommon, Kimber found at least one worker paid “under the table” by an unknown subcontractor, who was then asked to say he was working directly for Future Form. 

▲ The SSTOM package will also deliver a workshop depot for storing and the maintenance of trains at Orchard Hills.

Other details made public by the NSW Government were claims that some workers were on social benefits while also working for cash on Future Form’s Metro projects.

A number of labour supply companies, incorporated within days of each other and listed at the same residential address, were also a subject of the report. 

Kimber found that these companies had the same director, and would send invoices and other verifying material to Future Form over the Signal app. 

Known for its end-to-end encryption, Signal allows only the sender and recipient to see messages. Neither Signal itself nor third parties including government authorities can access these messages.

The Kimber Report has been referred to agencies including the NSW police, the NSW Crime Commission, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Fair Work Ombudsman, the ATO and the National Anti-Corruption Commission. 

Parklife Metro has now removed Future Form and all its downstream contractors, the NSW Government said.

Future Form responds

Despite the cancellation of its contract, Future Form said it was surprised by the “premature” release of the Kimber Report findings. 

“As far as Future Form is aware, Sydney Metro or We Build have yet to receive the final Kimber Report and is therefore unable to respond to specific allegations,” a Future Form spokesperson said.

“Future Form’s understanding is that no specific existing entitlements violations have been identified and there is no demonstration that Future Form had any knowledge of entitlements violations or payment anomalies.” 

▲ Future Form said that the Kimber Report had not yet been released in full and therefore it could not comment on specific allegations.

While it said it had not been involved in any “inappropriate influence” over the Industrial Relations Audit, Future Form conceded that process management of subcontractors could be improved. 

“Any assertion of a finding of underpayment of workers, inadequate insurance cover and tax fraud are not findings able to be made by Max Kimber and are matters requiring review by each relevant regulator,” a Future Form spokesperson said. 

“Future Form remains proud of the work delivered on the Western Sydney Airport Metro site and we continue to maintain a positive and professional relationship with all project partners.”

The spokesperson said Future Form would continue to work with regulators and agencies as part of any NSW Government inquiry.