University of Adelaide former vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen's $300k expenses revealed under FOI
Peter Rathjen was vice-chancellor at the University of Adelaide, after moving from Tasmania. (Supplied: University of Tasmania)
Disgraced former University of Adelaide vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen spent nearly $305,000 on travel and related expenses in just over two years in the role, documents reveal.
Key points:
- Professor Rathjen's travel included trips to the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the United States
- His travel bill was largest in 2019, when the university paid nearly $78,000 to fly him overseas
- Last month, SA's ICAC found he committed "serious misconduct" by sexually harassing two women
The documents obtained by the ABC through Freedom of Information (FOI) show Professor Rathjen travelled extensively during his tenure, from February 2018 until May 2020, when he took indefinite leave.
He resigned in July, and it was later revealed South Australia's Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) had found Professor Rathjen had committed "serious misconduct" by sexually harassing two women.
The documents show Professor Rathjen spent between $22,000 and $145,000 travelling each year.
The total cost of his travel, accommodation, meals and associated expenses was $304,307.
An earlier investigation by the ABC found he spent $277,000 on travel over four years as vice-chancellor of the University of Tasmania.
Professor Rathjen's travel bill was largest during 2019, when the University of Adelaide paid nearly $78,000 to fly him overseas.
His international accommodation and meals totalled $29,403 — almost $2,000 more than the total cost of his domestic airfares during the same year.
He took 10 trips abroad during his tenure, including to the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Canada and the United States.
That included four trips to the United Kingdom.
He solely visited the United States twice — and made five total trips there.
Professor Rathjen resigned from his university position in July. (ABC News: Dean Faulkner)
The documents show his international travel was approved by former chancellor Kevin Scarce.
The bulk of Professor Rathjen's domestic travel was to Melbourne and Canberra, which he collectively visited 31 times.
He also visited most other regions, including a trip to Kangaroo Island for a "strategic research site visit".
The documents indicate his reasons for travel included a "Morocco Throne Day celebration", "USA visa appointment", "meeting with Melbourne colleague; meeting with Tasmanian colleague", "meeting with state and federal politicians", as well as other networking events and conferences.
The ABC initially requested documents that included further details, including Professor Rathjen's travel companions, but the university estimated it would take 50 hours and $2,820 to compile the documents.
A spokesperson for the University of Adelaide said Professor Rathjen's trips were booked and taken within appropriate travel procedures.
"His travel served a range of strategic needs for the university and for the state," he said.
"For example, many of his visits were aimed at building partnerships and support for the university’s world-class research and industry links … as well as ongoing relations with key alumni networks."
The spokesperson said the university had since utilised technology as a substitute to face-to-face meetings.
Last month, anti-corruption commissioner Bruce Lander found Professor Rathjen inappropriately touched two university staff members, and kissed one, after a work function in April 2019.
In a detailed statement, the commissioner said Professor Rathjen repeatedly lied to the University of Adelaide then-chancellor, Kevin Scarce, when questioned about claims that he had a history of sexual harassment.