Former Renewal SA executive Georgina Vasilevski launches $1m damages claim over failed ICAC inquiry that ruined her career

Georgina Vasilevski, once one of SA’s top public servants, is seeking more than $1m in compensation after her career was trashed by a failed ICAC inquiry.

Former Renewal SA executive Georgina Vasilevski is seeking more than $1m compensation over the failed ICAC investigation and prosecution that ruined her public service career.

Ms Vasilevski has engaged solicitor Greg Griffin to launch the civil damages claim for loss of past and future income, reputational damage and harm.

The move comes just days after Deputy Director of Prosecutions Sandi McDonald SC formally advised Ms Vasilevski’s lawyers that three corruption-related charges, which were dropped in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in June, would not be re-laid against her.

Mr Griffin said the “outrageous and wrongful investigation and prosecution’’ of Ms Vasilevski had “destroyed her reputation and career”.

Georgina Vasilevski seen outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

“The losses she has sustained include having had her reputation trashed, the loss of her high-level employment and even losing her home,’’ Mr Griffin said.

Separately, lawyers Ms Vasilevski engaged – Jon Lister and Dick Whittington QC – to defend the criminal charges are seeking to recoup her $150,000 legal fees as part of a legal bulletin that indemnifies senior public servants if there is no adverse outcome from such an inquiry.

Ms Vasilevski, 45, and her then-boss, former Renewal SA chief executive John Hanlon, 63, were charged after an 18-month ICAC investigation.

It was launched after four female public servants from within the office made a series of allegations against them having been disciplined for bullying a fellow worker.

The three charges Ms Vasilevski faced related to $1032 – a return airfare to Melbourne, one night’s accommodation and a taxi fare to the airport – she incurred on a November 2017 trip.

Despite her protestations the trip was to visit locations scouting for ideas for proposed Lot 14 redevelopments and business discussions, ICAC contended it was not for business purposes.

In June this year, prosecutors conceded there was no evidence to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and they were dismissed by Magistrate Simon Smart.

Former Renewal SA chief executive John Hanlon arrives at the Adelaide Magistrates Court with barrister David Edwardson, QC. Picture: David Mariuz.

On Monday, Mr Hanlon was advised that after a review of the case file, three charges he faced, relating to a business trip to Berlin, were being re-laid in the District Court.

Mr Hanlon will be arraigned in the District Court in October, when an abuse of process application lodged by his lawyers is also likely to be heard.

Ms Vasilevski on Friday said though she was “in disbelief’’ when she learnt of the allegations against her, she believed she would be cleared “in a couple of weeks and return to work’’ but, instead, she was suspended on full pay for 16 months while the inquiry continued.

“When ICAC raided our offices I wasn’t worried I was corrupt, I was worried, ‘had we signed that form, had we done all the admin, is it up to date?’,’’ she said.

“Why did they go down this path? Why was I put under surveillance and my telephone tapped over $1000?

“I was treated like I was a drug dealer when this should have been handled in other ways.’’

The day before her first Adelaide Magistrates Court appearance, Ms Vasilevski was advised her position had been made redundant in an “office restructure’.’

A 20-year public service veteran who had worked in areas including the Premier and Cabinet Department, SA Health, SA Water and Family and Community Services in executive roles, Ms Vasilevski was one of four general managers at Renewal SA at the time.

While she received a redundancy payout based on her years of service and unpaid leave, she refused to sign a deed of release effectively silencing her that would have resulted in a further payout of $200,000.

“I was advised to sign it but refused because it would have endorsed what they did,’’ she said.

After recently applying unsuccessfully for several senior positions, Ms Vasilevski is now working as a consultant as she attempts to rebuild her career.

Former chief executive of Renewal SA John Hanlon with SA Premier Steven Marshall and ex-general manager of people and place management at Renewal SA Georgina Vasilevski in 2018. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

Mr Griffin said Ms Vasilevski had several causes of action against ICAC and the state as a result of several torts, including maladministration over the ICAC investigation, malicious prosecution and the misuse of powers by public officers.

He intends to seek an out-of-court settlement but will lodge Supreme Court proceedings if that is unsuccessful.

“No-one from the government has seen fit to enable Georgina to restore her reputation and it is unlikely she will ever again work in government,’’ Mr Griffin said.

“The government made an extremely large ex-gratia payment to Henry Keogh yet are offering no such payment to Georgina who should not on any view have been charged at all.’’

Mr Griffin also questioned why prosecution policy guidelines were not followed by the DPP in Ms Vasilevski’s case.

“The one basic criteria which is the cornerstone of the uniform prosecution policy throughout Australia is that a prosecution should not proceed if there is no reasonable prospect of a conviction being secured,’’ he said.

“Georgina’s case is that quintessential case where no prosecution ought to have been proceeded with.

“The DPP were relying upon information obtained via ICAC. The DPP have in truth been left holding the baby in this case.

“In court in June, the prosecution finally made the proper concession that it simply could not prove its case about how the money was spent in Melbourne, whether it was part of a proper work trip or not.’’