Payout for sacked government adviser Don Coulson

A SACKED senior government adviser who revealed he ran a parliamentary porn ring from his office has won a taxpayer funded payout.

Don Coulson leaves the County Court of Victoria. ###positive ID by Shannon Deery###

A SACKED senior government adviser who revealed he ran a parliamentary porn ring from his office has won a tax-payer funded payout.

Don Coulson, who was sacked days after Denis Napthine took over from Ted Baillieu in 2013, sued the government for a severance payout saying he was owed more than $65,000.

County Court judge Peter Wischusen today agreed, finding under the terms of his contract Mr Coulson was owed redundancy pay.

He awarded him about 10 weeks of salary, totalling $27,870.54.

Lawyers for both parties will return to court next week to make submissions about costs.

In October last year Mr Coulson went on the record to claim he ran a pornographic ring that lent sleazy movies to Coalition MPs and advisers from inside his office at 1 Treasury Place.

The videos allegedly shared included bestiality and ‘granny porn”.

He said several memory sticks, including many belonging to other staff, had been openly circulated between a dozen advisers and MPs.

“My office was a drop-off and collection centre. I believe there were more USBs in circulation. I am aware that other people created them,” he said.

But in a stunning about face during a trial in February Mr Coulson denied the claims on oath, and denied any “direct knowledge” that his office was a known porn drop off point.

He admitted to “becoming aware” that pornography was circulating but denied he had run the ring.

He also admitted a small amount of “objectionable material” was found on CDs in his office that he had brought from his home.

Lawyers for Mr Coulson argued he was owed a redundancy payout of $67,000 for his time working for Mr Baillieu and a further $280 for his week with Dr Napthine.

In a counter action the Government claimed Mr Coulson must return $30,000 in severance pay because he had pornography in his office while working for Mr Baillieu.

Judge Wischusen dismissed the counterclaim.

Mr Coulson was in charge of the government’s Freedom of Information strategy.

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