David Ridgway’s chauffeur fights disciplinary action, wins payout after MP signed blank time sheets and allowed him to drive other Liberal MPs
Trade Minister David Ridgway has faced reporters after The Advertiser today revealed he signed blank time sheets for his chauffeur and allowed him to ferry other Liberal MPs to events.
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Trade Minister David Ridgway has rejected suggestions he should be sacked after revelations he signed blank timesheets for his former driver, Barry Jeisman.
As The Advertiser revealed exclusively today, Mr Ridgway signed blank time sheets for his chauffeur and allowed him to courier other Liberal MPs around while he went overseas, a move that triggered a misconduct investigation and resulted in a secret government payout to the driver.
Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said the revelations about Mr Ridgway and the ongoing country MP’s expenses saga had become a “full-blown” crisis and the Premier had no choice but to sack Mr Ridgway, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll and Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone.
Fronting the media in Mitcham on Saturday morning, Mr Ridgway said he had spoken to the Premier’s office but not to the Premier, Steven Marshall, himself in the past 24 hours.
‘The Premier’s Office was disappointed it has been elevated to this, but the end of the day I signed the sheets in good faith that Mr Jeisman was going to be driving Michelle Lensink as acting leader (of the house).
Mr Ridgway could not say if any other Liberal MPs had use the vehicle for which he signed the blank sheets.
He said it had been a long time practice for members from both parties to use the vehicle to represent their parties.
“I trusted Mr Jeisman... I thought it was a little unusual, I had never done it before. But I was away for five weeks for the first time in my Parliamentary career.
“It was one of those things that I trusted this man, that it was a sensible thing to do and I did it to ensure that he got paid a salary.”
Mr Ridgway rejected suggestions from the Opposition that he should be sacked.
“I accept while signing those sheets, although it was unusual, at the end of the day this was investigated”.
When asked if he had done anything wrong, Mr Ridgway said a lengthy investigation had made no finding against him.
“In this case the gentleman was actually doing the work and driving the vehicle .... so I don’t think there was actually any inappropriate use or intentions and that I signed the timesheets for,” he said.
After a two-monthinvestigation, which included a court battle with the State Government, The Advertiser revealed a settlement had been agreed with the long-serving driver, who disputed his removal from duties in 2018 after an incident in 2016.
That payment avoided action in the SA Employment Tribunal, where the driver was set to argue that disciplinary action for “misconduct capable of bringing himself and the public service into disrepute” was “unjust” as it had been approved by people including ministers.
The size of the payout and terms of the agreement are secret due to a confidentiality clause.
In official statements to a government investigator and the SA Employment Tribunal, Mr Ridgway admits he signed blank time sheets and allowed his driver to work for other Liberal MPs during five-week personal overseas trip that he took in August and September of 2016.
Mr Ridgway was recorded on time sheets as the client, despite being out of the country.
He also admits to not knowing any of the rules around the use of taxpayer-funded drivers.
He reports colleagues wanted the chauffeur services for “specific things they had planned while I was away”.
That included taking Michelle Lensink, who is now Human Services Minister, “on a planned trip” and escorting Terry Stephens, now upper house president, to the Balaklava Cup.
At the time, the Liberals were in Opposition. Mr Ridgway had use of a ministerial chauffeur and car due to his position then as Opposition Leader in the Upper House.
There also appear to be contradictions in Mr Ridgway’s own statements.
He says in one “I didn’t authorise Mr Jeisman to make copies of pre-signed blank time sheets” and in another that “the reason I would have authorised him to copy blank time sheets signed by me is because I have the utmost trust in him”.
Some dates are also inconsistent.
The new revelations come amid a wider expenses and perks scandal in State Parliament, as the Independent Commission Against Corruption examines 10 years of travel expenses.
The chauffeur, Barry Jeisman, had almost 30 years experience in the role including two decades driving former premier Mike Rann.
He was removed from duties in 2018 after an extended departmental investigation triggered by the 2016 time sheets, and is now retired.
Mr Ridgway writes in one statement: “Prior to going on leave, I had received several requests from members of my party asking whether they could utilise Mr Jeisman’s services”.
“I said that so long as Mr Jeisman was not taking leave, he was available to be utilised by any member of the Opposition. I also ensured that this was known to all members.”
In the legal documents, Mr Ridgway admits to having no idea of the rules around drivers.
He concedes to signing “two or three” blank time sheets covering his time overseas.
“I have had no training or guidance in managing chauffeurs. I have never been consulted about the right or wrong way to manage. I have never been told what to do or what not to do. I have never been told what to sign and what not to sign,” Mr Ridgway stated under oath.
“I am not aware of any of the procedures that surround chauffeurs. I have been informed there exists a ministerial chauffeurs’ handbook. I have never seen such a handbook.
“I cannot recall signing blank time sheets prior to my leave in 2016, but I may have.”
Mr Ridgway reports Mr Jeisman was also asked to transport his staff to and from functions as well as pick up documents from his home, workplace and electorate office.
Mr Ridgway on Friday said investigations had not found him in breach of any rules.
“Just prior to a personal trip to visit my family overseas in 2016, and prior to becoming a Minister, my driver at the time asked me to sign several blank time sheets to cover this period,” Mr Ridgway said. “At the time I felt it was an out-of-the-ordinary request.
“However, in the absence of a rule book l signed the forms because I felt my driver of nearly four years to be an honest and trustworthy person. I also genuinely believed that this was the only way he would receive payment while I was away.
“Throughout the independent investigation into the actions of my driver … at no point has there ever been a finding that I contravened any rules or personally benefited financially or otherwise, from these circumstances.”
The Advertiser is seeking further documents on the settlement and disputed disciplinary action in the SA Employment Tribunal and from the Department of Treasury and Finance.
Treasurer Rob Lucas said he wasn’t involved in the settlement with Mr Jeisman.
He said it was uncommon for such settlements to include admissions of guilt.
Arrangements for driver time sheets have since moved from paper to electronic records.
On Saturday, Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said the Premier had no choice but to sack Ministers Ridgway, Knoll and Whetstone.
“This scandal has become a full-blown crisis which is engulfing the Marshall Liberal Government,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“Just like he did with Sam Duluk, Steven Marshall has dithered, he’s failed to show leadership and he’s failed to take the decisive action necessary to discipline his MPs,” he said.
The most incredible part is the admission of ignorance
Analysis – Daniel Wills
Premier Steven Marshall now has an expenses and perks bushfire on his hands, as revelations about blank time sheets for a ministerial driver pile on top of a travel scandal.
This issue around Trade Minister David Ridgway’s driver has been simmering in secret for four years.
It goes back beyond the last election and raises questions about not just his conduct, but the processes that have been followed by powerful public servants.
Speculation is now rife in the Liberal Party that Mr Marshall will be forced into a reshuffle to put this period behind him and refresh a Cabinet that has been unchanged since his election.
What is most incredible about Mr Ridgway’s statements is that he admits to being completely ignorant as to the rules around how to manage drivers, their work and payment.
He says he was never shown the rules, and thought it was okay to sign a blank time sheet.
His seemingly conflicting statements on allowing copies to be made are also most curious.
His driver ended up receiving severe punishment for that and other claimed indiscretions.
But the question has to be asked about whether his boss really should have known better and who in our system of government is ultimately accountable when process isn’t followed.
If Mr Ridgway is confused, the taxpayer has no hope of making sense of these luxurious and privileged arrangements that they fund or if they deliver any value for money.
The travel expenses scandal has only blown up the way that it has because of public scrutiny.
A strand of questioning around the living arrangements of Upper House President Terry Stephens cascaded into five MPs admitting errors in their travel claims and an Independent Commission Against Corruption probe into 10 years of records released by the Government.
This matter is exactly the same, and The Advertiser has had to apply pressure through the courts and Freedom of Information to bring any of it to light.
There’s still more to do.
But now that it has come to light, Mr Marshall will have to take new action to ensure public confidence.
How The Advertiser fought to reveal it came to light – and what’s next
Crown lawyers have abandoned court action aimed at suppressing information on a claim of unfair treatment brought by a former ministerial driver against the State Government.
The Advertiser has been seeking documents from the SA Employment Tribunal since May, following a technical judgment on if a ministerial driver is deemed a public servant.
In that matter, which is public, the Tribunal determined former ministerial driver Barry Jeisman was a public servant and had the ability to seek a review of disciplinary action.
It reveals some agreed facts about the dispute, including that the Treasury Department in February 2018 ruled Mr Jeisman had “engaged in misconduct capable of bringing himself and the public service into disrepute” and was transferred to alternative duties in accounts payable.
The Advertiser subsequently sought access to other information on the case, and was informed the parties had advised the Tribunal they had agreed to terms to resolve the matter out of court.
That led to the driver withdrawing his request for a review of disciplinary action.
Mr Jeisman’s lawyers advised the Tribunal they do not oppose release of further documents.
However, Crown Law sought to have them suppressed, and was directed to make submissions as to why by Wednesday of this week.
On that day, Crown advised the bid would be dropped.
The Advertiser is now preparing submissions for release of all documents held on file about the case, in the public interest, which will be provided to the Tribunal in coming days.
His Honour Tony Rossi will then consider if permission should be granted.
On Thursday, after the Crown abandoned its attempt at suppression, Trade Minister David Ridgway proactively released two documents to The Advertiser on his role in the dispute.
They are an undated affidavit he gave to the SA Employment Tribunal, and three separate statements provided to a Government Investigations Officer in the Attorney-General’s department. Those statements are dated between February 13 and August 27, 2017.
– Daniel Wills