Victorian MPs and ministerial staff have been accused of being involved in a “vile pornographic ring” after a former adviser alleged that videos containing sexual content were distributed within government offices.
Don Coulson, who dealt with freedom of information laws for former premier Ted Baillieu, alleges that people within parliament exchanged USBs containing pornographic material.
Coulson is currently involved in a legal dispute with the government after being sacked in March last year, shortly after Baillieu was replaced by the current premier, Denis Napthine.
The former public servant is claiming $67,000 in money he says is owed him as a result of his wrongful dismissal. The government has countersued, claiming that Coulson should pay back $30,000 in severance pay because he had pornography in his office.
Coulson told the Herald Sun his office was a “drop-off and collection centre” for pornographic material, which was made available on USBs so that MPs and staff would be able to avoid breaking rules on viewing pornography on workplace computers.
“I wasn’t particularly interested in who was doing what as long as they weren’t breaking the code of conduct or any laws,” Coulson told the paper.
“But I believe at least one minister, and MPs, were accessing this material. They [the use of memory sticks] grew out of the desire that ministerial officers not access pornography on their government computers.
“It was a solution to a potential problem. It was something that I didn’t expect to be presented the way it has been presented.
“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.”
Coulson admitted the allegation did not reflect well upon him, but said he would not name those involved in the distribution of pornography. According to the Herald Sun, Coulson has denied accessing any pornographic material on his work equipment. He told the paper he would vigorously defend claims he accessed pornography on any government system.
The Victorian government has sought to quell the controversy, pointing out that it is in a legal dispute with Coulson and dismissing calls for the matter to be investigated by police.
Napthine said: “He’s making these bizarre and absurd allegations, so I think that needs to be seen in the context of that scenario.
“It was not illegal material, it was inappropriate material, it was perhaps quite disgusting material, but not illegal material.”
Matthew Guy, Victoria’s planning minister, said that as Coulson was already involved in a court case “that’s investigation enough”.
“These are allegations made by one person, there’s no evidence that anyone has been involved in anything like this,” Guy told the ABC. “He’s made an allegation. There’s a difference between an allegation and fact.”
But Labor is pushing for the matter to be thoroughly investigated by police.
“Both state and federal laws will require this to be investigated,” said James Merlino, Labor’s deputy leader. “This isn’t about what individuals so in their own homes, these are shocking allegations of a vile pornography ring involving a minister or ministers in the government.”
Victoria will hold an election on 29 November.
