Godwin Grech
{{Short description|Australian public servant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Godwin Grech
| image =
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| occupation = Australian public servant (former)
| years_active = 1989–2009
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| alma_mater = University of Melbourne
}}
Godwin Grech is a former Australian Treasury official, best known for his role in the centre of the Utegate scandal in 2009.
Grech grew up in Melbourne as the son of Maltese immigrants. After graduating from the University of Melbourne with a Commerce degree, Grech moved to Canberra to join the Australian Public Service.
His public service career was split between the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Treasury. For the most part, Grech was close to the policy action of the Howard and Rudd Governments, and had a reputation as being highly diligent and reliable. However, in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet he handled a controversial Western Bulldogs grant in 2004, and in the Department of the Treasury, he was in the middle of the 2009 OzCar affair, in which he forged an email to imply special treatment of Labor political donors. The OzCar affair forced his retirement from the public service in 2009.
Life and career
Grech's parents were born in Malta in the 1930s and migrated to Australia. Godwin attended St. Paul's College graduating from the school in 1984. Godwin went on to study commerce at the University of Melbourne.
= Early Treasury career =
Directly after graduating university, Grech joined the Australian Public Service.{{cite news|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/04/rundle-turnbull-is-dead/|title=Turnbull is dead|first=Guy|last=Rundle|date=4 August 2009|publisher=Crikey|accessdate=7 September 2014}}
In the late 1990s Grech had executive assignments in Treasury's markets group, dealing with financial institutions and systems and with competition and market access policy.{{cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/who-is-godwin-grech/1549572.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728055944/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/who-is-godwin-grech/1549572.aspx |archive-date=28 July 2009 |title=Who is Godwin Grech? |date=24 June 2009 |first=Mark |last=Davis |publisher=Fairfax Media |newspaper=The Canberra Times |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}
{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/a-steady-rise-then-sideways-shifts-20090624-cvia.html |title=A steady rise, then sideways shifts |first=Mark |last=Davis |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822192958/http://www.smh.com.au/national/a-steady-rise-then-sideways-shifts-20090624-cvia.html |archive-date=22 August 2009 |date=24 June 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }} In 1998, he was briefly seconded to work in Joe Hockey's office when Hockey was financial services minister, although the secondment lasted only two weeks due to personal differences with another staffer.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/exposing-the-private-life-of-mysterious-godwin-grech/story-e6freuy9-1225739558035?nk=100970dce4b1f559824670f3dcdb4a5e|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|title=Exposing the private life of mysterious Godwin Grech|first1=Janet|last1=Fife-Yeomens|first2=Alison|last2=Rehn|date=24 June 2009}}
By 2003, Grech was general manager of Treasury's competition and consumer policy division.
= Management of Western Bulldogs government grant =
From June 2003 to July 2008, Grech worked in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.{{citation|url=https://www.vcgr.vic.gov.au/CA256F800017E8D4/WebObj/881663BD19916CECCA257529000AA7BB/$File/Decision%20-%20Footscray%20Football%20Club%20Ltd%20-%20Club%20Edgewater%20-%2024%20Dec%2008.pdf|title=Decision and reasons for decision: In the matter of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 -and- In the matter of an application under section 3.3.4 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 by Footscray Football Club Ltd for approval of premises at the Cnr. Edgewater Boulevard and Skyline Drive, Maribyrnong, as suitable for gaming with seventy (70) gaming machines|publisher=Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation|page=28|date=24 December 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/investigations/godwin-grech-in-dogs-pokie-mystery-20090708-dder.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410023044/http://www.theage.com.au/national/investigations/godwin-grech-in-dogs-pokie-mystery-20090708-dder.html|archivedate=10 April 2011|first=Royce|last=Millar|date=9 July 2009|title=Godwin Grech in Dogs pokie mystery|newspaper=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media}} At Prime Minister and Cabinet, he advised on employment, business conditions, competition and consumer affairs. In 2004 at the Department, shortly before the 2004 federal election, Grech was responsible for handling a grant to the Western Bulldogs Football Club, a club he supported, for rebuilding Whitten Oval, the training and administrative headquarters for the club.{{cite news|newspaper=The Australian|title=Both parties agree Bulldogs fan Godwin Grech was out of his league|date=27 June 2009|first=Paul|last=Maley|publisher=News Corp|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/both-parties-agree-bulldogs-fan-godwin-grech-was-out-of-his-league/story-e6frg6n6-1225740664558}}
The grant was part of the Howard Government's "pitch to the working class vote", and Grech was, in his own words, "the primary officer that managed and facilitated the Federal Government’s response to the submission by the Western Bulldogs Football Club regarding the proposed re-development of the Whitten Oval. This included oversight and personally briefing the then Prime Minister, the Hon. John Howard, and his office, on the size, scope and overall merit of the project."{{cite news|publisher=Crikey|date=25 June 2009|title=Godwin Grech, John Howard's go-to man|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/06/25/godwin-grech-john-howards-go-to-man/?wpmp_switcher=mobile|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907035918/http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/06/25/godwin-grech-john-howards-go-to-man/?wpmp_switcher=mobile|archive-date=7 September 2014|first=Bernard|last=Keane|url-status=live}}
= Head of OzCar scheme =
In 2008, Grech returned to the Treasury as a principal adviser in its financial systems division. His new position saw him responsible for the $850 million OzCar scheme, including formulating and administering the scheme.{{cite news|first=Emma|last=Rogers|date=23 June 2009|title=OzCar scandal: controversy explained|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-06-21/ozcar-scandal-controversy-explained/1327966|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112212557/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-06-21/ozcar-scandal-controversy-explained/1327966|archivedate=12 November 2012}} While in the position, he created a fake email in which then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's economics advisor, Andrew Charlton, purportedly sought help in seeking special treatment for a political donor.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/why-i-faked-ozcar-email-godwin-grech/story-e6frg6n6-1225757610973|title=Why I faked OzCar email: Godwin Grech|date=4 August 2009|first=Paul|last=Maley|publisher=News Limited|newspaper=The Australian}}{{cite news|title=Malcolm Turnbull blames fake email mole Godwin Grech|date=5 August 2009|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/malcolm-turnbull-blames-fake-email-mole-godwin-grech/story-e6freooo-1225757978952?nk=100970dce4b1f559824670f3dcdb4a5e|newspaper=The Courier Mail|publisher=News Corp|first1=Stefanie|last1=Balogh|first2=Emma|last2=Chalmers|first3=Renee|last3=Viellaris}} He then took the email to then Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turnbull and to media, making allegations against the Prime Minister and then-Treasurer, Wayne Swan.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/how-godwin-grech-blew-the-whistle-and-came-to-regret-it/story-e6frf7jo-1225757994297|title=How Godwin Grech blew the whistle - and came to regret it|first=Steve|last=Lewis|date=5 August 2009|newspaper=Herald Sun|publisher=News Ltd|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915113450/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/how-godwin-grech-blew-the-whistle-and-came-to-regret-it/story-e6frf7jo-1225757994297|archivedate=15 September 2014}}
The OzCar affair, also known as Utegate, was according to political analyst Barrie Cassidy the beginning of the end for Malcolm Turnbull's leadership,{{citation|title=The Party Thieves: The Real Story Of The 2010 Election|first=Barrie|last=Cassidy|chapter=Chapter 2: Good One, Godwin|pages=12–20|publisher=Melbourne University Press|date=2010|isbn=9780522857801|author-link=Barrie Cassidy}} and according to Michelle Grattan wounded Turnbull terribly.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/dangerous-double-life-of-grech-20091126-juha.html|newspaper=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|first=Michelle|last=Grattan|date=27 November 2009|title=Dangerous double life of Grech|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907042915/http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/dangerous-double-life-of-grech-20091126-juha.html|archivedate=7 September 2014|author-link=Michelle Grattan}} This despite his self-proclaimed motivation to place himself where he thought he could be of most value to Turnbull and the Liberal Party.
The OzCar scandal propelled Grech into the public sphere, various politicians were interviewed on their impressions of Grech, with John Howard describing him as "competent and hard-working"; Malcolm Turnbull stating he was "a very highly regarded public servant";{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2606489.htm|title=ABC reveals Grech was supplying info to Coalition|first=Michael|last=Brissenden|date=23 June 2009|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|work=The 7.30 Report|archivedate=14 March 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314183149/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2606489.htm}} and then-Liberal Member for Mayo Jamie Briggs telling media that "Godwin got the job done: he was the officer for looking after it".
On the back of the scandal Grech resigned from the Treasury department in Spring 2009, while a voluntary psychiatric patient in Canberra.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/email-fraudster-godwin-grech-parts-company-with-treasury-department/story-e6frfkp9-1225783573675|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907034708/http://www.news.com.au/national/email-fraudster-godwin-grech-parts-company-with-treasury-department/story-e6frfkp9-1225783573675|archivedate=7 September 2014|title=Email fraudster Godwin Grech parts company with Treasury department|date=7 October 2009|publisher=News Limited|newspaper=News.com.au}}
The Australian Federal Police began an investigation into Grech which found that there was evidence Grech had broken the law, but that he would not face criminal charges over the affair.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/grech-avoids-criminal-charges/story-fn59niix-1225956826730|newspaper=The Australian|publisher=News Limited|date=20 November 2010|title=Federal prosecutors are not confident of gaining a conviction|first=Paul|last=Maley}} The 16-month-long investigation reputedly took a heavy toll on Grech, who was suffering serious kidney and bowel disease at the time.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/left-in-limbo-godwin-grech-yearns-for-end-of-the-ozcar-affair/story-e6frg6n6-1225936873448?nk=82df68fbea2924bad51c185b5377bb94|first=Paul|last=Maley|title=Left in limbo, Godwin Grech yearns for end of the OzCar affair|date=11 October 2010|newspaper=The Australian|publisher=News Limited}}
= Life after public service =
Grech sold his home in Calwell, ACT in 2010.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|first1=Michael|last1=Inman|first2=Markus|last2=Mannheim|title=Secret payout for OzCar affair official|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/secret-payout-for-ozcar-affair-official-20130707-2pkac.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119030343/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/secret-payout-for-ozcar-affair-official-20130707-2pkac.html|archivedate=19 November 2013|date=8 July 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/archive/news/godwin-grech-sent-packing/story-e6frf7l6-1225832740165|title=Godwin Grech sent packing|date=21 February 2010|first=Ben|last=Packham|newspaper=Herald Sun|publisher=News Limited}}
In 2012, he made what media described as a "surprise public foray", in which he wrote an opinion piece for The Spectator Australia advocating a Tony Abbott government.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/godwin-grech-takes-aim-at-labor-turnbull/story-fn59niix-1226452334948|title=Godwin Grech takes aim at Labor, Turnbull|agency=AAP|newspaper=The Australian|publisher=News Corp|date=17 August 2012}} He argued in the piece that "Australian governance has deteriorated markedly since the election of the Rudd-Gillard government in November 2007" and commented that chronic leadership instability, spin and incompetence had produced some of the most appalling public policy and administration since Federation in 1901.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/abbott-pm-and-gg-howard-will-restore-the-golden-days-20120816-24bk1.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606153702/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/abbott-pm-and-gg-howard-will-restore-the-golden-days-20120816-24bk1.html|archivedate=6 June 2014|title=Abbott PM and G-G Howard will restore the golden days|date=17 August 2012|first=Godwin|last=Grech|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media}}
In 2013, Fairfax Media reported Grech was believed to have won a payout from the federal government for his ill health.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/illhealth-payout-to-utegates-grech-20130707-2pk50.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906030637/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/illhealth-payout-to-utegates-grech-20130707-2pk50.html|archivedate=6 September 2014|publisher=Fairfax Media|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|first1=Michael|last1=Inman|date=8 July 2013|title=Ill-health payout to Utegate's Grech|first2=Markus|last2=Mannheim}} Media sought access to case details, but they were deemed confidential and the public was barred from attending court proceedings or accessing court documents.{{cite news|title=Secret hearing on Godwin Grech payout claim|newspaper=The Canberra Times|first=Michael|last=Inman|publisher=Fairfax Media|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/secret-hearing-on-godwin-grech-payout-claim-20130710-2pq07.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820105223/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/secret-hearing-on-godwin-grech-payout-claim-20130710-2pq07.html|archivedate=20 August 2013|date=10 July 2013}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:University of Melbourne alumni