By Jeff Hampton
Australia is discovering the full extent of the nightmare that is Gerald Shirtcliff.
The Australian 60 Minutes programme has confronted the fake engineer, who oversaw construction of the CTV building that collapsed in Christchurch.
The programme confronted him and also raised concerns about other buildings Shirtcliff has been involved with - including some of Australia’s best-known.
Shirtcliff's Australian projects have put him in the very bright headlights of the Australian media. 60 Minutes journalist Liam Bartlett approached Shirtcliff, asking about an identity he uses called Will Fisher, an English engineer whose identity and degree were stolen by Shirtcliff.
“We've spoken to the real Will Fisher, he'd like his degree back if possible,” Mr Bartlett said.
The real Mr Fisher flatted with Shirtcliff in South Africa 45 years ago.
“Part of my anxiety is just what the hell else has he got up to,” says Mr Fisher .
Pretending to be Mr Fisher, Shirtcliff worked on big projects throughout Australia, including the 33-storey Kingsgate building in Kings Cross in the 1970s, an open-cut gold mine, power station buildings and a flagpole on top of the new Parliament House in Canberra.
He's now under investigation by Australian police and New Zealand police, and has been kicked out of Engineers Australia.
His fraud victims in New Zealand include Eric and Kay Zust, who lost their life savings in an automotive business they bought from him because he had cooked the books.
He stole another friend's idea for a dual-fuel system after being taken in at his house on home detention.
But it was his role as supervising engineer of the CTV building where 115 died in last year’s devastating quake that had him under scrutiny in New Zealand.
Clemency Mutze survived with serious injuries after crashing down five floors.
“There could be other buildings we don't know about yet, he's got to deal with it and take responsibility.”
Shirtcliff's fraud and his role in big projects has again made headlines across Australia after 60 Minutes screened in Australia last night. Back here the royal commission investigating the collapse of the CTV building is due to report back next month.
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