Tristan Weston Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: Herald Sun
TRISTAN Weston, the man at the centre of the police crisis tapes, says the Liberal Party chief Damien Mantach did not pay him hush money, in the wake of the release of an eighth secret tape.
In a statement to the Herald Sun (read it below), Mr Weston said Mr Mantach had offered assistance because he was concerned about him and his family.
"(He) was motivated by his belief that I had been 'hung out to dry' by certain members of Government," Mr Weston says.
In the tape obtained by the Herald Sun, of a conversation between the Liberal's state director Mr Mantach and Deputy Premier Peter Ryan's former adviser, Mr Weston, the party boss says he's decided to place Mr Weston on a "cash job".
Mr Mantach tells Mr Weston that the job market is difficult and he's decided to place him on a "cash salary" of $90,000, in what he described as a "three-month salary".
"You're not going to be required to come in here," Mr Mantach tells Mr Weston.
"I think you have been burned … there's a lot of blame on others. You've been hung out to dry, which is unfair," Mr Mantach says in the conversation.
"There's been crossfire in Liberal-National relations which has not been helpful… the party is interested in doing is to make sure there is a lvel of support for you.
“That's why I sent you away, that's why I've put you on a salary for a period of months."
Statement by Tristan Weston re Mr Damien Mantach, issued to the Herald Sun
I have consistently maintained that I would make no public comment with respect to the events leading to my resignation as a ministerial adviser, however, following media speculation surrounding my employment by the Liberal Party on a short-term contract I feel obligated to correct a number of erroneous assertions made with respect to the conduct and motivations of the State Director of the Liberal Party, Mr Damien Mantach.
It was never my understanding that the money paid to me by Mr Mantach under what was a private contractual arrangement was intended to buy my silence or was a form of “hush money”.
Had this been the case I would have refused such an offer.
Rather I understood it to be a genuine, compassionate offer of assistance from a man who was concerned for the welfare of both myself and my family during an intensely trying period and was motivated by his belief that I had “been hung out to dry” by certain members of government.
I did not receive any public funds as a result of this contract and Mr Mantach was perfectly entitled to act as he did. That he chose not to be one more fair-weather friend and turn his back at such a time speaks volumes as to the kind of man he is.
I have always found Mr Mantach to be a man of enormous integrity. To accuse him of impropriety in this matter does him an enormous disservice and is an affront to his reputation and dignity.
Tristan Weston
It comes as Mr Weston, Peter Ryan's adviser, repeatedly told Sir Ken Jones he'd bring his minister into the loop as Sir Ken was being marched out of the Victoria Police Centre in May 2011.
In two telephone conversations - which were digitally recorded and have now been obtained by the Herald Sun - Mr Weston tells an angry and upset Sir Ken he will raise his concerns with Mr Ryan.
The pair also criticised then-chief commissioner Simon Overland, with Sir Ken saying: "He'll get his day one day. Something will get him."
Mr Weston replies: "It's coming, it's just a shame that it's taken so long."
The conversations give the first public insight into how Sir Ken - who has repeatedly refused to make any comments about his departure - was feeling as he was forced out the door by Mr Overland, who had accused his former deputy commissioner of leaking information.
Audio: Sir Ken Jones-Tristan Weston conversation 1 (Warning: strong language)
Audio: Sir Ken Jones-Tristan Weston conversation 2 (Warning: strong language)
In one of the conversations, Sir Ken - who had resigned but planned to work for another six weeks before he completed his duties - laments that Mr Overland was "going to have his OPI dogs on me, there's no doubt about that".
In the conversation, Mr Weston - apparently referring to the mammoth struggle between Sir Ken and Mr Overland - says the Government can't "sit on its hands forever though, and eventually they'll have to commit themselves to, yes, we're supporting party A or party B".
He also says he'll discuss the dispute with Mr Ryan.
Former Victorian deputy police commissioner Sir Ken Jones.
"If I don't speak to Peter tonight, I'll be definitely speaking with him tomorrow," Mr Weston says.
Sir Ken replies: "Cheers", to which Mr Weston says: "And that's the first question I'm going to be asking him: 'Why haven't you spoken to the bloke and asked him yourself?' "
In the second phone call, Sir Ken appears furious that he has just been ordered out of the office by Mr Overland.
He tells Mr Weston he won't speak out against Mr Overland publicly because "we made a deal. We made a deal".
Mr Weston promises to raise it with Mr Ryan: "All right, leave this with me. I'll speak to Peter."
Twice more he says he will raise Sir Ken's concerns with Mr Ryan.
In an apparent reference to the Ombudsman's investigation into Mr Overland, Sir Ken says: "Wait for the Ombudsman, I think that's going to do him."
Mr Weston again urges Sir Ken to defend himself from Mr Overland's attacks.
"I'm not lowering myself to his level," Sir Ken says.
"But where I draw the line is if he says anything publicly. Because I won't be talking about him. I'll be talking about the hundreds of millions of dollars, the people who've died and the (edited by the Herald Sun for legal reasons)."
Mr Weston also reassures Sir Ken he does not believe Mr Ryan had notice that he was to be asked to finish duties immediately.
"I'd be very disappointed if he consulted and got support for this with the minister," Sir Ken says.
"Peter would not agree to that ... Peter has too much character, integrity for that," Mr Weston replies.
Sir Ken also says there are better ways for him to leave, such as a "nice send-off with the minister or something, and a cup of tea".
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