Transport Department was ‘reporting to their political master’ in preparing report that delays Torrens to Darlington, opposition says

The state opposition has accused Transport Department employees of helping their political master Tom Koutsantonis find problems with the North-South Corridor project.

A pair of senior Transport Department employees who prepared a document that justifies delays to the Torrens to Darlington project were “reporting to their political master” Tom Koutsantonis, the state opposition has alleged.

But the government says it is an unfair attack on public servants who have provided nothing but independent advice.

Opposition Leader David Speirs said the purpose of the report, tabled in parliament this week, was to validate Mr Koutsantonis’ decision to push more than $1bn in funding for the project beyond the forward estimates.

He said the position of the Transport Department had changed drastically between January – when submissions were made for an Infrastructure Australia report – and May of this year.

The Infrastructure Australia document, released in February, cleared the project to attract 50/50 funding from the commonwealth but mentioned the state government could face hurdles in its delivery.

The second review, which was undertaken by the Transport Department at the request of the new Labor government, identified an “overly optimistic and unrealistic” timeline had been set by the previous government to complete the new road.

“They have completely changed the advice and evidence and viewpoints,” Mr Speirs said.

“These are the same senior public servants, Jon Whelan and Wayne Buckerfield, (who) have been involved in both sets of reports, which have come up with completely different answers.

“The only thing that has changed is the government here in South Australia and their boss has changed, their boss is now Peter Malinauskas and Tom Koutsantonis.”

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

SA Liberal leader David Speirs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Asked whether he believed the public servants had been politically influenced, he said they were “reporting to their political master”. “Their political master is Tom Koutsantonis,” he said.

Defending Mr Whelan and Mr Buckerfield, Mr Koutsantonis said Mr Speirs’ comments were “a terrible attack on the independence of the public service” and that Mr Buckerfield had “minimal” involvement in Torrens to Darlington under the former government.

“Mr Speirs should provide evidence immediately of his accusations or withdraw them,” he said.

In an inquiry directed to Mr Whelan and Mr Buckerfield via the department, The Advertiser asked the pair’s response to allegations of political influence and about their level of involvement, if any, in the submission to Infrastructure Australia.

A department spokesman replied: “Following the appointment of Mr Jon Whelan as the chief executive of (the department), Mr Whelan initiated a review of the North-South Corridor.

“The review has formed the basis of the most recent advice to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.”