NSW Minister for Lands and Property, Multiculturalism, Sport, Jobs and Tourism, Steve Kamper is facing escalating pressure over claims he failed to disclose a conflict of interest linked to a government contract within his own portfolio, after acknowledging close personal, family and business connections to figures involved in the arrangement.
The matter emerged during Budget Estimates hearings on March 5, where crossbench MP Mark Latham questioned the Minister about his relationship with parties connected to the contract, and was subsequently escalated in Parliament, with the Legislative Council expressing “grave concern”, calling for his removal from office, and proposing that the matter be referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) for investigation.
At the centre of the issue is a catering contract for Venues NSW – the government agency responsible for major stadiums and events – awarded to a consortium led by Gema Group, a privately owned catering company. One of the businesses involved in that contract is Morco Fresh, a fresh produce supplier associated with the Moraitis family, a prominent name in Sydney’s seafood and hospitality sector.
The connection to the Minister arises through both family and business links. During the Budget Estimates hearing, Kamper confirmed that members of the Moraitis family are connected to his own through marriage, that they live on the same street, and that Kamper Accountants – a firm established by his family and run by his brother – acts for Morco Fresh. The central question raised in Parliament is whether, once aware of those links, the Minister was required to declare a conflict of interest.
Examining the links: Relationships, business ties and awareness
Under questioning during Budget Estimates, Kamper acknowledged the relationship directly.
“I know the Moraitises because the Moraitis children are married into my brother’s family,” he said, adding that Peter Moraitis “lives in the same street as me.”
He also confirmed the professional link between the families, accepting that Kamper Accountants acts for Morco Fresh, stating: “Yes. It’s my brother’s firm.”
The hearing then turned to when he became aware that Morco Fresh was part of a contract sitting within his own ministerial portfolio. Kamper said he became aware of the connection in early 2024, describing it as something he learned “just through conversation at an event.”
Asked what steps he took after becoming aware of that relationship, Kamper responded, “There was nothing to do about it. What’s there to do?”
Kamper’s position was that he had no role in the tender process and that the contract was handled by Venues NSW rather than by the Minister.
During the Budget Estimates hearing, Kamper was repeatedly pressed on his meetings, his knowledge of the arrangements and any potential conflicts. In several instances, he did not provide specific detail at the time, instead taking questions on notice and referring to general disclosures such as ministerial diaries.
Financial links and disclosure dispute
While the Minister’s responses focused on distancing himself from the arrangement and limiting his connection to Morco Fresh, questioning led by Latham centred on whether a conflict existed and whether it was declared once known.
Parliamentary material tabled in the Legislative Council set out the financial dimension more directly. According to that material, Kamper Accountants had a longstanding business association with Morco Fresh, which itself stood to benefit from the Gema Group contract awarded within the Minister’s portfolio. The same material alleged that, within that arrangement, members of the Minister’s family were “making substantial amounts of money” from a company that was itself making substantial amounts of money from activities within the Minister’s portfolio.
The material also alleged that Kamper became aware of this arrangement in 2024, raising questions about whether any conflict was declared to the Premier or his department, in line with the NSW Ministerial Code of Conduct.
Latham framed the issue as one of accountability rather than process, telling Parliament, “We know the cavalier attitude of Mr Kamper about declaration of interests.”
Kamper rejected that characterisation, telling the hearing, “I have no business or connection to Morco Fresh other than they’re an in-law.”
The allegations raised in Parliament have not been tested or proven.
Coverforce questions raise broader disclosure concerns
Separate from the Gema and Morco matter, further questions have been raised in Parliament about Kamper’s past association with Coverforce, an insurance brokerage he co-founded.
In Parliament, Latham drew attention to what he described as the partial sale of Coverforce Pty Ltd in 2021 for over $400 million, noting that Kamper had established the company in 1994 as a director, secretary and shareholder. He further stated that, at the time of the sale, an entity registered at Kamper Chartered Accountants held more than 600,000 shares “not beneficially”, and that the beneficial owner had not been publicly identified following the transaction.
Latham went on to question why, since entering Parliament in 2015, Kamper had “never declared this financial interest in his MP returns”, and whether any beneficial ownership had been maintained while serving as a Minister.
While no findings have been made in relation to those claims, they have been raised alongside the Morco matter as part of a broader argument advanced in Parliament about disclosure practices and whether the Minister has consistently met his disclosure obligations.
It has been indicated that the Minister divested all interest in Coverforce prior to entering Parliament in 2015.
Minister rejects claims and denies involvement
In response to questions from The Greek Herald, a spokesperson for Minister Kamper rejected the allegations.
“The basis of these questions are false. These questions were asked under parliamentary privilege where the individual in question is immune from defamation,” the spokesperson said.
They added that the Minister had no role in the awarding of the Gema Group contract.
“Venues NSW conducted the tender. As it was an operational matter, there was no involvement or required approval from the Minister,” the spokesperson said.
Evidence given during Budget Estimates by Venues NSW CEO Kerrie Mather supported that position, with the procurement process described as being handled within the agency and not involving the Minister.
Parliament raises concerns and proposes ICAC referral
On March 25, the Legislative Council expressed “grave concern” about Kamper’s evidence, highlighting the personal and business links involved, noting his acknowledged awareness of the arrangement, and pointing to the apparent absence of any declaration.
A proposal called for Kamper’s removal from office over the Gema/Morco/Kamper Accountants matter and raised the issue of referral to ICAC for investigation.
Under NSW law, Parliament has the ability to refer matters to ICAC for investigation, although the Commission independently determines whether to act on any such referral.
ICAC was contacted by The Greek Herald and said it does not comment on whether it has received referrals or whether it is considering or undertaking investigations.
In response to questions from The Greek Herald, Mark Latham said, “No response has been received from ICAC. I believe a full ICAC investigation is warranted.”
What is now established on the public record, however, is that Kamper acknowledged close personal and familial ties to the Moraitis family, confirmed a business relationship between his family’s accounting firm and Morco Fresh, and accepted that he became aware of the arrangement while it sat within his portfolio.
His acknowledgment that he took no action after that point – combined with broader questions about disclosure of past financial interests – has become central to the claims now being advanced.
Kamper has maintained that he has complied with all relevant requirements and denies any wrongdoing. However, with concerns raised in Parliament, including calls for his removal and a proposed referral to ICAC, the matter has moved beyond routine scrutiny into a direct test of ministerial disclosure, accountability and public trust.
