Aspen Medical was given more than $1 billion in government PPE contracts despite no experience in large-scale procurement

Health Minister Greg Hunt wrote and signed a glowing letter of commendation for a politically connected healthcare company while it was in the midst of negotiations with his department for lucrative multi-million-dollar PPE deals.

Canberra-based Aspen Medical would go on to win taxpayer-funded contracts — without a public tender — worth more than $1.1 billion.

After combined losses of $7 million over 2018 and 2019, these deals have seen the company's pre-tax profits soar to more than $420 million during the pandemic.

While Aspen Medical had no prior experience in such large-scale procurement, its PPE deals with the Department of Health were worth $500 million more than any other government supplier, including those with a background in the industry.