Ex govt adviser denies using porn at work

An ex-adviser to the former Victorian coalition government says his office may have been used to trade sexually explicit images, but he never accessed pornography at work.

In the Victorian County Court on Thursday, Don Coulson said he had no direct knowledge there was pornographic material on the USB sticks that passed through his office at 1 Treasure Place, but it was "implied".

Mr Coulson, who worked as a Freedom of Information advisor under Ted Baillieu, is suing the state for about $60,000 in redundancy payments after he was sacked within days of Denis Napthine taking over as premier in 2013.

The State of Victoria has lodged a counter-claim that states Mr Coulson was involved in serious misconduct and should pay back about $30,000 he received following his dismissal.

It alleges Mr Coulson stored pornography in his office at 1 Treasury Place.

Mr Coulson denies accessing, downloading or uploading pornography while at work as a ministerial adviser.

Giving evidence on Thursday, he said CDs containing sexually explicit material found in his office were back-ups of off-site material and of 1600 files only a small number were deemed "objectionable".

"No memory stick that I opened in my office had pornographic material," Mr Coulson told the court.

Jim McKenna, for the state, put it to Mr Coulson that his office was used as a drop-off point for sexually explicit material.

Mr Coulson replied: "I accept that it may have been."

Asked if he was suspicious there were sexually explicit images in the USB sticks that frequently passed through his office, Mr Coulson said it was "likely".

He said his office received a lot of information, was open all day and people regularly used it for "bitching sessions".

But he denied he made known to other people in the Premier's office that he had porn in his office.

He said he provided advice to members of the office about the appropriate use of government equipment and that if they wanted to view sexually explicit material they should do it on their own time on their own device.

Mr Coulson's lawyer said the state would not be able to establish misconduct and he had already spent the money.

Mr Coulson said he has lodged more than 100 job applications since he was sacked from his government position.

The hearing will resume before Judge Peter Wischusen on Friday.