The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of New South Wales, Australia, is to hold a public inquiry into allegations that Joseph Camilleri, former RailCorp general manager (maintenance contracts), and his sister, Carmen Attard, an employee at the Department of Family and Community Services (DFACS), used their positions as public officials to corruptly solicit funds totalling over $1.5 million from other people including public officials and government contractors.

It is alleged that from early 2012, Mr Camilleri requested loans from approximately 50 people who were either RailCorp employees, or were persons directly involved in tenders for RailCorp contracts.

These amounts exceeding $500,000 from people with commercial relationships with RailCorp, and over $1 million from RailCorp employees.

Mr Camilleri gave the money to his daughter, apparently to pay off her debts.

Ms Attard is alleged to have solicited funds exceeding $140,000 from 10 of her colleagues at DFACS for Mr Camilleri's daughter.

Australian media said this is the state's rail system's first major corruption inquiry in more than five years.

Mr Camilleri worked on the railways for 37 years before he was fired on February 15 last year.