Trainee mechanics at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) have been using electric vehicles (EVs) from car hire companies, including Hertz, pulling them apart and putting them back together without the company knowing, the ACT Legislative Assembly has heard.
Independent MLA Thomas Emerson used parliamentary privilege to make the claims of professional misconduct against the Electric Vehicle TAFE Centre of Excellence.
Mr Emerson tabled documents and read a statement of alleged facts provided to him by a whistleblower, who claimed that the training centre at CIT was struggling to obtain electric vehicles for the trainees to work on.
The whistleblower alleged that instead, the centre had hired EVs from car hire company Hertz, without telling the company what the vehicles were being used for.
“These documents contain a public interest disclosure from a Canberra Institute of Technology employee, alleging that CIT’s Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence has been training unqualified students using private hire cars in companies like Hertz, pulling elements apart and putting them back together without telling the hire car companies,” Mr Emerson told the assembly.
“No procurement process, no testing and tagging, no safety assurance. The electric vehicles were invoiced as travel expenses, and the hire car company was never advised that their vehicles had been used for mechanical training, high-voltage battery work, and de-powering and re-powering.”
CIT says hire car used once
The CIT is accused of using hired EVs to train its students unbeknownst to the rental companies. (Supplied: Hertz)
In a statement, a CIT spokesperson has challenged the allegations.
“CIT takes the safety of all students, staff and community members seriously,” the statement said.
“EV Centre of Excellence training is an upskilling course and is available only to professionals currently in the industry with existing qualifications.
“The EV Centre of Excellence has rigorous pre-course screening as part of the enrolment process. Students are only cleared to participate if they meet requirements.
“A hire car was used on one occasion only.
“The car was used primarily for transportation, for example between campuses. During the workshop, the hire car was utilised for simple demonstration purposes, including pointing out some safety features.
“No servicing activities were undertaken, nor were any elements of the car removed. No activities were undertaken where public or participants were at risk,” the statement said.
The spokesperson said the CEO’s office had acknowledged a complaint it received on January 9 and an investigation was undertaken that remains ongoing.
Claims CIT did not act on allegations
The CIT statement is at odds with many of the allegations raised by Mr Emerson.
He went on to tell the assembly that the whistleblower alleged at least some of these vehicles were subsequently hired out to customers, without any knowledge or approval from Hertz that the vehicles had been used for training purposes.
“This practice, the whistleblower states, has been approved by CIT management, despite posing, ‘significant risk’ of injury or death to staff, students and the general public, with ‘electric vehicles that have been worked on by unqualified students being unknowingly hired and driven by members of the public’,”
Mr Emerson said.
Mr Emerson also tabled documents as part of his statement to the assembly, including an email he said was written by someone within the CIT to CEO Margot McNeill in January 2026, raising their concerns about the training practices within the Electric Vehicle TAFE Centre of Excellence.
Mr Emerson told the assembly that the CIT employee claimed that neither Dr McNeill nor the CIT executive acted on the allegations.
“The whistleblower made their formal public interest disclosure, which I’ve tabled, to the CEO of CIT Dr Margot McNeill in January of this year, after the concerns have been raised through internal reporting channels throughout 2025, including appropriate escalation to management with no response,” Mr Emerson said.
“What happened when the whistleblower wrote to the CEO? Nothing. The unsafe activities continued.“
Emerson argues for stronger whistleblower protections
The Electric Vehicle TAFE Centre of Excellence at the CIT was announced in May 2024 and touted as a first-of-its-kind facility that was funded by the Federal and ACT governments.
Both governments put in nearly $10 million each to fund its establishment, with an extra $4.8 million provided by the Federal government due to what it called “the urgent need to increase use of EVs in transitioning to a net zero economy”.
The Canberra Institute of Technology operates the TAFE Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
Mr Emerson made the statement to the assembly in support of his motion to increase the protection of whistleblowers in the ACT, which he said was inadequate for individuals trying to raise concerns of wrongdoing and corruption within institutions.
“Four years ago, the ACT government acknowledged the need for reform in this area when it commissioned Mr Ian Govi AM to conduct a review of the ACT’s whistleblower laws. That review delivered 39 recommendations back in 2023,” Mr Emerson said.
He expressed disappointment that none of the recommendations had been enacted to this point, and argued there was an immediate need to improve the ACT’s laws.
“Whistleblowing can be isolating. It can be traumatic. It can put people in an incredibly vulnerable position, both professionally and personally,”
Mr Emerson said.
Independent Member for Kurrajong Thomas Emerson claims CIT leadership was aware of the use of hire cars. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
He also pointed to recent changes made in New South Wales.
“In 2024, the New South Wales government established a dedicated whistleblower support team within the New South Wales Ombudsman’s Office. That service provides legal assistance, wellbeing support and practical casework management,” he said.
ACT Skills and Training Minister Michael Pettersson said the allegations were “deeply concerning”.
“Upon becoming aware, I sought advice from the public service on the allegations and any actions taken in response” Mr Pettersson said.
“The ACT government has committed to a review of governance arrangements at CIT. I will provide further information on its terms of reference imminently,”
he said.
Dr McNeill and Hertz have been contacted for comment.
