Vasilevski launches $1.2m claim over ‘orchestrated’ sacking

Former Renewal SA executive Georgina Vasilevski has lodged a $1.2 million lawsuit over her sacking after being wrongly charged following an ICAC inquiry.

Former Renewal SA executive Georgina Vasilevski has launched Supreme Court proceedings seeking $1.2m in compensation over her “orchestrated’’ sacking while facing doomed corruption charges.

The statement of claim alleges she was sacked from her position as a general manager at Renewal SA the day before her court appearance in 2020 “to ensure that the government was not embarrassed by her remaining a public servant while being prosecuted on ICAC charges”.

Former Renewal SA executive Georgina Vasilevski. Picture: Dean Martin

It details a lengthy chain of correspondence between Renewal SA executives and Ms Vasilevski, after she was suspended in September 2018 while the ICAC inquiry was underway, in which she was told the organisation was being internally restructured and her position was being made redundant.

The claim reveals Ms Vasilevski protested against such a move and also expressed her desire to be “considered for alternate suitable positions within the SA public service’’.

However, she was finally told by letter on June 3, 2020, – the day before her court appearance – that her employment was being terminated. “The termination of the applicants employment was driven not by Renewal SA’s desire to implement an agency restructure, but was driven for reasons of political expedience to avoid embarrassment,’’ the claim states.

While Ms Vasilevski 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.

Former head of Renewal SA John Hanlon leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

In 2018, ICAC launched an inquiry into both Ms Vasilevski and then Renewal SA chief executive John Hanlon after four female public servants from within the office – who had been disciplined for bullying a fellow worker – made a series of allegations against them.

The three charges Ms Vasilevski faced related to $1032 in expenses she incurred on a November 2017 trip.

In June last year, prosecutors conceded there was no evidence to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and they were dismissed.

Ms Vasilevski had steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.

She is seeking payment for lost and future income, general damages and a determination her sacking was unlawful.