Pressure mounts on Tasmanian Liberal Jane Howlett over legal bill and election messaging
Tasmanian Racing Minister Jane Howlett is facing calls for her resignation from the Labor Party and the Greens following parliamentary evidence that contradicts claims about her office’s knowledge of election guideline breaches. The demands for her departure stem from testimony regarding party-political messaging and Howlett’s refusal to explain more than $300,000 in taxpayer-funded legal fees for an unrelated matter, according to parliamentary proceedings.
Why is the Racing Minister facing calls to resign?
The calls for resignation center on whether Minister Howlett and her senior adviser, Luke Gaetani, misled parliament regarding the “TasInsure” policy messaging. Private consultant Nicolas Turner, who manages communications for Tasracing, testified that Gaetani would have seen the entirety of the messaging sent to the racing industry.
This testimony contradicts two statutory declarations signed by Gaetani. The first stated he was unaware Tasracing intended to issue a text or social media post, and a second expanded this to cover any public communication on any platform, according to parliamentary records.
Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks found the Tasracing messaging breached election guidelines. Caretaker conventions dictate that government resources must not promote party-political messaging during election periods.
How does the legal fee controversy compare to previous resignations?
Labor and the Greens argue Howlett should step down because she has not outlined why taxpayers paid over $300,000 in legal fees for an undisclosed matter. They point to the recent resignation of former minister Madeleine Ogilvie as a precedent for such conduct.
Ogilvie resigned last month after providing conflicting answers to parliament about a Supreme Court matter that cost taxpayers at least $120,000. While the government did not accept that Ogilvie misled parliament, opposition members claim Howlett’s lack of transparency on her own legal processes warrants a similar exit.
What was the government’s response to the allegations?
The government maintains that neither Minister Howlett nor her adviser committed any wrongdoing. A government spokesperson stated that Gaetani’s role was to answer stakeholder questions about policy and that he lacked knowledge of the plan to issue public communications.
Minister Howlett has described the questioning regarding the caretaker convention breach as “nothing but a misogynist attack.” Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins has accepted responsibility for the messaging in question.
What may happen next in parliament?
Parliament is scheduled to return on Tuesday. It remains unclear if Labor or the Greens will move a no-confidence motion or a censure motion against Minister Howlett.
Further questioning could focus on the discrepancy between Nicolas Turner’s testimony and the statutory declarations tabled by the minister in March. A possible next step involves the government deciding whether to maintain Howlett’s position in the cabinet despite mounting pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a caretaker convention?
Caretaker conventions are rules ensuring government resources are not used to promote party-political messaging during election periods.
What did Nicolas Turner tell parliament?
Mr. Turner testified that Luke Gaetani would have seen the entirety of the messaging sent to the industry and was aware that Tasracing intended to issue public communication about the TasInsure policy.
How much in legal fees is associated with Jane Howlett?
Minister Howlett has accrued more than $300,000 in taxpayer-funded legal fees for an unrelated matter.
Should ministers be required to disclose all taxpayer-funded legal expenses immediately to parliament?