Kamco
Kamco was the consortium company formed to deliver Victoria's Myki public transport smartcard ticketing system.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Kamco, formally identified as Keane Australia Micropayment Consortium Pty Ltd, was established in Australia in 2003 to bid for Victoria's planned public transport ticketing system. Its subject is distinct from other businesses using the Kamco name: the relevant entity was a project company and ticketing-system delivery vehicle associated with Keane Australia and a consortium that included Ascom, ERG and Giesecke & Devrient. Keane Australia presented itself as the consortium's accountable contracting party to Victoria's Transport Ticketing Authority. The consortium won the Victorian ticketing tender in 2005 and was contracted to design, supply, implement and support Myki, a contactless smartcard system intended to replace or complement the state's existing Metcard arrangements. ERG, a Perth-based transport-ticketing company and the creator of Metcard, was involved in the consortium and was subcontracted for installation and repair work. The project became one of Victoria's most closely scrutinised public technology procurements because of its escalating cost, timetable slippage, technical failures and difficult relationships among the contracting parties. The procurement was later criticised after a review led by Des Pearson. In 2008, Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls said the tender process had been conducted improperly. Reporting around the review raised concerns about possible conflicts of interest and probity, including the financial and employment connections of Vivian Miners, the then chief executive of the Transport Ticketing Authority, with Headstrong, a company connected to the consortium. The final report also questioned Keane's corporate experience and capacity to develop, implement and operate a ticketing system. These findings became a central part of the public controversy surrounding Kamco's appointment. The delivery phase generated additional disputes. In late 2007, Kamco was reported to have sought additional cash and a change to the payment schedule. The project subsequently encountered problems during its January 2010 rollout, including incorrect fare calculations, cards that could not be activated, cards that failed to operate station gates and the recall of approximately 30,500 cards. The Victorian government and political opponents argued over responsibility for the failures, while the project was widely portrayed as substantially over budget and behind schedule. Kamco also became involved in litigation with ERG. ERG withheld Myki equipment while asserting that Kamco owed it approximately A$1.8 million in unpaid bills. Kamco repudiated the installation and repair subcontract in June 2009, arguing that changes to ERG's corporate structure had breached the agreement. ERG sued for claimed losses of A$30 million, and Kamco filed a counterclaim in the Victorian Supreme Court. After the Victorian election in 2010, the incoming government commissioned Deloitte to conduct a broad review of Myki. The government did not release the report publicly while negotiations concerning the operating contract were continuing, stating that disclosure could disadvantage its position. Alternative providers proposed lower-cost technical options, but the government deferred consideration while the relevant costings were assessed. In 2010, Keane was acquired by NTT DATA. Keane Australia subsequently changed its name in October 2013 to NTT Data Victorian Ticketing System Pty Ltd, marking the end of Kamco's use as the principal public-facing corporate identity described in the original project account.
History
Kamco was formed in 2003 as Keane Australia Micropayment Consortium Pty Ltd to participate in Victoria's procurement for a new public transport ticketing system. The company functioned as a project and contracting vehicle rather than as a conventional consumer brand. Its consortium identity brought together Keane Australia, Ascom, ERG and Giesecke & Devrient, with Keane Australia described as the party providing a single point of accountability to the Transport Ticketing Authority. The consortium was awarded the Victorian contract in 2005. The resulting Myki system was intended to provide a reusable contactless smartcard for public transport journeys and to modernise fare collection across the state. ERG's earlier experience with Metcard was relevant to the consortium's transport-ticketing capabilities, while other members contributed technology, implementation or systems expertise. The undertaking required the integration of cards, validators, gates, back-office systems, retail distribution and operational support. The procurement became controversial before the system was fully operational. In 2008, Vivian Miners resigned as chief executive of the Transport Ticketing Authority. A review by Des Pearson, followed by comments from Attorney-General Rob Hulls, concluded that the tendering process had been conducted improperly. Public reporting described possible conflicts of interest involving Miners, including his ownership of shares in Headstrong and professional or personal connections involving people associated with Headstrong and ERG. The final review also questioned whether Keane had sufficient corporate experience and demonstrated capacity for the project. The controversy affected perceptions of both the procurement and Kamco's ability to deliver. During implementation, Kamco was reported to have sought a cash injection and revised payment arrangements. The project experienced delays and cost escalation. A major public test came with the January 2010 rollout, when users encountered fare-calculation errors, cards that could not be activated and cards that did not reliably operate station entry or exit gates. Approximately 30,500 cards were recalled. The responsible minister attributed the problems to errors by Kamco, while political debate focused on whether the system's cost and performance were reasonable compared with other smartcard networks. The consortium's internal commercial relationships also deteriorated. ERG had been subcontracted to install and repair Myki equipment under a contract reported at A$106 million. ERG withheld equipment while claiming that approximately A$1.8 million in bills remained unpaid. Kamco repudiated the arrangement in June 2009, contending that a change in ERG's corporate structure had violated the subcontract. ERG pursued a claim for approximately A$30 million in alleged losses, and Kamco brought a counterclaim in the Victorian Supreme Court. Following the 2010 Victorian election, the new government commissioned Deloitte to undertake a comprehensive review of Myki. The review was described as a broad or “warts and all” assessment, but the government declined to publish it while negotiations over the operating contract were under way. Proposals from other companies suggested that alternative technical solutions might be cheaper, although the government said it needed Treasury and Finance costings before considering such options. Ending the contract early was understood to carry a potentially very large public cost. Corporate ownership changed during this period. Keane was acquired by NTT DATA in 2010. In October 2013, Keane Australia changed its name to NTT Data Victorian Ticketing System Pty Ltd. This renamed entity reflects the corporate succession from the Keane business, while the Kamco name remains principally associated with the original Myki consortium, its procurement controversy, implementation problems and contractual disputes.
- 2013
Keane Australia renamed
[1]Keane Australia changes its name to NTT Data Victorian Ticketing System Pty Ltd.
- 2010
Myki system begins major rollout
[1]The January rollout experiences card, fare and gate-operation failures, including a recall of approximately 30,500 cards.
- 2010
Keane acquired by NTT DATA
[1]NTT DATA takes over Keane, the parent company associated with Kamco.
- 2009
ERG subcontract dispute escalates
[1]Kamco repudiates its installation and repair subcontract with ERG amid disagreement over corporate structure and alleged unpaid bills.
- 2008
Procurement review finds tendering problems
[1]A review of the tendering process identifies improper conduct and raises conflict-of-interest and probity concerns.
- 2005
Myki contract awarded
[1]The Kamco consortium is contracted to provide Victoria's Myki ticketing system.
- 2003
Kamco is formed
[1]Keane Australia Micropayment Consortium Pty Ltd is established to bid for Victoria's new public transport ticketing system.
Products and positioning
Project consortium and accountable delivery company for a large-scale public transport smartcard system in Victoria, Australia.
Public transport smartcard ticketing system · 2010
Myki
Myki was Victoria's contactless public transport ticketing system, developed and implemented under the Kamco contract. It combined reusable smartcards with validators, station gates, card activation and retail or distribution arrangements, as well as back-office fare-processing functions. The system was intended to support fare collection across the state's public transport network and replace older ticketing arrangements. Its rollout attracted criticism because of delays, cost growth, incorrect fare charging, activation failures, gate-operation problems and a recall of approximately 30,500 cards.
Controversies
2010
Myki rollout failures
The initial rollout generated public and political criticism because of incorrect fare charges, cards that could not be activated, gate failures and the recall of approximately 30,500 cards.
2008
Victoria ticketing procurement controversy
The procurement process that selected the Kamco consortium was criticised after a review found improper tendering and raised concerns about conflicts of interest, probity, report handling and preferential treatment. The review also questioned Keane's experience and capacity to deliver the system.
Brand decisions
2010
Proceed with the January Myki rolloutStrategyBackground
The project was under political and public pressure to begin operating despite continuing implementation issues.
Action taken
Kamco and the Victorian authorities proceeded with the January rollout of the system.
Aftermath
Technical failures, user complaints and a card recall intensified scrutiny of Kamco and prompted a later government review.
2010
Commission an independent review of MykiStrategyBackground
Following a change of Victorian government, the project's cost, performance and future operating model required reassessment.
Action taken
The incoming government commissioned Deloitte to conduct a broad review of Myki.
Aftermath
The review was not publicly released while operating-contract negotiations continued, and alternative technical options were deferred pending cost assessment.
2009
Repudiate the ERG installation and repair subcontractOtherBackground
ERG withheld Myki equipment while asserting that Kamco had unpaid bills and the parties disagreed over the effect of changes to ERG's corporate structure.
Action taken
Kamco repudiated the subcontract in June 2009 and pursued a counterclaim after ERG commenced legal action.
Aftermath
The dispute became part of the project's wider implementation and commercial difficulties.
Reported subcontract value. A$106 million (2009)
2005
Accept the contract to deliver MykiProduct launchBackground
Victoria sought a new integrated public transport ticketing system to modernise fare collection.
Action taken
The Keane Australia-led Kamco consortium accepted the contract to design and provide the Myki system.
Aftermath
The project proceeded through a delayed and costly implementation that later attracted procurement, performance and contract-management criticism.
Recent events
- 2013
Keane Australia changes name after NTT DATA acquisition[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Following NTT DATA's acquisition of Keane, Keane Australia changed its name to NTT Data Victorian Ticketing System Pty Ltd.
- 2010
Victorian government commissions review of Myki[1]
Regulation · Other
After a change of government, Deloitte was commissioned to conduct a broad review of the Myki project. The report was not publicly released while operating-contract negotiations continued.
- 2007
Kamco reported to be seeking a cash injection[1]
Other
Reporting said Kamco sought additional funding and a faster payment schedule during development of the Myki project.
- 2005
Kamco consortium wins Victoria's new public transport ticketing contract[1]
Product launch
The Keane Australia-led consortium was contracted to provide the Myki public transport ticketing system for Victoria.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/kamco · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled