THE growing "Cartridgegate" scandal has spread to more than 10 State Government departments

The Opposition has demanded an inquiry into lucrative gifts given to public servants for buying print cartridges at vastly inflated prices.

The Sunday Mail has learnt:

GOVERNMENT officials believe organised national gangs that frequently change company names to avoid being caught in audits are systematically targeting low-level bureaucrats to offer lucrative incentives to buy over-priced, poorly made print cartridges;

THE issue came to light in SA thanks only to whistleblowers and a tip-off from WA's Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Victorian Ombudsman, who are investigating the issue in those states;

INVOICES checked by a parliamentary committee so far go back only two years, with concern the rort has been occurring for much longer;

CONCERN the incentive rort is not limited to cartridge sales, with procurement for other items, such as electrical equipment, likely to be investigated.

Invoices provided by whistleblowers to Parliament's budget and finance committee, headed by Opposition MLC Rob Lucas, show that public servants have received iPods, PlayStations, digital cameras, movie passes and Coles vouchers - some worth up to $200 - for buying cartridges at about double the normal price.

In one case, a cartridge available for $100 was bought for $699, with the buyer receiving hundreds of dollars in gifts.

Two cases have been referred to the police and the Crown Solicitor's Office. Several public servants have been suspended and others have taken leave as investigations continue.

Departments implicated so far include Premier and Cabinet, Health, Education, Transport and Further Education with about $500,000 of cartridge purchases being checked.

At least 11 public-health sites are implicated. Mr Lucas said he had details of more than 10 government departments involved but declined to name them yet.

"It is now clear this scandal is spiralling out of control, as every week more and more departments and staff are implicated," he said.

"The only way all these issues can be resolved is if there is a comprehensive independent inquiry by the Auditor-General. In theory, if public servants have succumbed to temptation for print cartridges, then equally they may have (succumbed) in other areas. The same principle would apply, in particular to the purchase of IT and audio-visual equipment."

Finance Minister Michael O'Brien said an investigation was under way.

"The chief executive of Department of Premier and Cabinet has asked all chief executives to investigate and report back with any irregularities," Mr O'Brien said.

"Anything arising from these inquiries will be given to the Crown Solicitor and the Government Investigations Unit. The fact these incidences are being exposed shows the system is working."

Mr Lucas has sought information under Freedom of Information but was told it would cost him $3.3 million to process the request from one department alone.

crouchb@sundaymail.com.au