Gillman land deal: Shamed public servant Michael Buchan stays on

A PUBLIC servant found guilty of maladministration over the Gillman land deal will not be sacked, and has instead been moved to another senior job in the same department.

22/1/15 MFP Site at Gillman taken from the Grand Trunkway.

• ICAC finds maladministration in Gillman land deal
• Sacked Renewal SA boss given $10,000 to move home
• Fred Hansen keeps $385,000 payout

A PUBLIC servant found guilty of maladministration over the Gillman land deal will not be sacked, and has instead been moved to another senior job within the same department.

The Advertiser can reveal Renewal SA has completed an internal review of former chief operating officer Michael Buchan’s employment, and will retain him as a public servant.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption in October delivered its long-awaited report into the sale of publicly-owned land at Gillman, to private consortium Adelaide Capital Partners for the purpose of building a gas and mining industry hub, without an open tender.

It cleared Premier Jay Weatherill and Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis, but made findings of maladministration against Mr Buchan and former Renewal SA chief executive Fred Hansen.

Mr Hansen was sacked by Mr Weatherill a year and a half before the ICAC report was released, and headed back to his native US with a $385,000 taxpayer-funded payout.

Current Renewal SA chief executive John Hanlon said Mr Buchan would not be sacked and has now been appointed as the department’s general manager of property management.

Mr Hanlon yesterday told The Advertiser: “Having taken all matters into consideration, and after seeking a range of legal and other relevant professional advice, I determined that the best outcome was for Michael Buchan to return to Renewal SA in a new role”.

“I will have no further comment to make on these matters,” Mr Hanlon said.

Opposition treasury spokesman Rob Lucas said the Government’s response to the Gillman inquiry had been a “virtual whitewash with no one prepared to accept responsibility”.

“It remains my strong view the buck stops on the desks of Minister Tom Koutsantonis and Premier Jay Weatherill,” he said.

“However, they have tried to walk away from any responsibility, and all we see is someone now being moved sideways.”

“Given the ICAC finding of maladministration the overall response has been appalling.”

Mr Lucas said the Government should also reveal if Mr Buchan’s salary has been affected.

ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander said he found Mr Buchan a good and truthful witness.

However, he found Mr Buchan acted disrespectfully toward the Renewal SA board as acting chief executive by asking it to make a fast decision on the deal to meet Cabinet deadlines.

Mr Lander said he should have instead told Mr Koutsantonis his expectation was unreasonable, as the Renewal SA board needed more time to review materials and make recommendations.

Mr Lander said he accepted that Mr Buchan felt under pressure, but that did not excuse him.

ICAC transcripts record Mr Buchan saying it was common for Mr Koutsantonis to use abusive language “in relation to most things”, including phrases like “what the f--- would I employ you for?” and “are you a bunch of useless c---s or not?”