Collard in frame for doco
The first footage from a documentary exploring the downfall of Geelong businessman David Collard has surfaced, with senior politicians Richard Marles and Peter Dutton featuring prominently. Melbourne-based company Pure Production is behind the five-minute clip that also includes interviews with two former employees of Mr Collard’s Scale Facilitation.
“This is now another let down story for Geelong,” onetime Scale employee Michael Graham said.
“When it all hit the fan and I found out that other creditors, not-for-profits, around Geelong were owed money, it’s a level of embarrassment I’ve never experienced before.”
The documentary, which has the working title Don’t Take the Call, includes speeches made by Mr Marles and Mr Dutton at Scale’s glitzy launch of its New York offices in December 2022.
Mr Marles labelled “Dave” a “force of nature” and “innately entrepreneurial”.
“It is clearly in his genes, in his bones, and was there the moment he was born,” he told the crowd.
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Mr Dutton, who had his flights and accommodation paid for by Scale, said: “He (Collard) has the ability to see around corners and over the horizon – that is an incredible quality.”
Mr Marles and Mr Dutton have since repeatedly refused to answer questions regarding their connection to the businessman.
The teaser’s opening scene provides background and highlights the June 2023 police raid of Scale’s Geelong headquarters over allegations of tax fraud, “which brought to light numerous problems with the way the business was run”.
The film is being produced by Jeremy Bowtell, a former St Joseph’s College Geelong student who graduated in 2002 alongside Mr Collard. Mr Bowtell said Don’t Take the Call referred to a quote from April Palmerlee, chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, who said in a speech: “If you don’t want to back Scale Facilitation don’t take a call from David Collard.”
“What seemed like a witty nod to his persuasiveness may have actually been a veiled warning, in hindsight,” Mr Bowtell said.