NSW minister defends bus contract tender NSW'S transport minister insists all tender decisions are based on merit after reports bus contracts have been awarded to clients of a former Liberal MP's lobbying firm. Lucrative contacts have been handed out by Gladys Berejiklian to clients of powerbroker Michael Photios' lobbying firm PremierState, News Corp Australia reports. Ms Berejiklian on Tuesday issued a statement saying the bus contract tender process was subject to strict probity conditions. " (It) was carried out independently by Transport for NSW and overseen by probity advisers and three governance committees," she said. The contracts will provide better services across eight regions and save taxpayers $350 million over eight years, she said Comment is being sought from PremierState.