A former boss of South Australia's road safety authority, the Motor Accident Commission (MAC), has faced court accused of drink-driving and assaulting police.
Benjamin John Tuffnell, 46, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today charged with driving with excess blood alcohol, failing to comply with a direction to leave his vehicle, resisting police and two counts of assaulting police.
Prosecutors allege the offences were committed on July 17 and 18 in Adelaide.
Further details about the alleged offending were not aired during the brief hearing, but Mr Tuffnell's defence lawyer told the court his client would be contesting the charges.
Mr Tuffnell's LinkedIn profile states that he is currently employed by the South Australian Tourism Commission as the executive of corporate affairs.
He states that he "provides executive leadership to the group responsible for liaison with government, local and national news media and the broader tourism industry".
The profile states he was the general manager of corporate affairs for the MAC between 2007 and 2014 before he became the principal economic adviser to then-treasurer Tom Koutsantonis, who quit as road safety minister in 2009 after accumulating 60 traffic fines.
It says Mr Tuffnell was also chief of staff for former deputy premier and treasurer Kevin Foley between 2004 and 2007.
He was remanded on continuing bail and was excused from attending the next hearing in October.
