Premier Jeremy Rockliff has apologised for failing to properly scrutinise a minister’s answer to a parliamentary committee, describing the affair as a “pile of crap” that landed on his desk.
The apology has not satisfied Labor, which says it is prepared to support a censure motion or a referral to parliament’s Privileges Committee when state parliament resumes next week.
The issue centres on taxpayer-funded legal fees for two of Rockliff’s ministers, one of whom has since quit cabinet.
Rockliff told reporters on Wednesday he became aware of a clarification to former minister Madeleine Ogilvie’s committee answer about a week after it was given.
He conceded he should have looked into it more closely.
“In hindsight, I should have well and truly interrogated that answer further. I didn’t,” he said. “I regret that and I apologise for that.”
The premier said his workload meant some things had been missed.
“I’ve got a lot of balls in the air and unfortunately you drop a few along the way and this was one,” he said.
“From time to time, like this one, there’s a pile of crap that lands on your desk, which you’ve just gotta clean up and fix up, which is what we’re doing,” he said.
About $120,000 has been spent on legal fees for Ogilvie and more than $300,000 for Minister Jane Howlett.
The premier was asked whether the spending was open-ended.
Rockliff said costs had to be “within reason” and that money would be recovered if wrongdoing was found.
“If individuals are found to be in the wrong, then all those legal fees will need to be paid back to the Tasmanian taxpayer,” he said.
He said he could not discuss some details because of confidentiality and ongoing legal proceedings, but described the situation as “new territory” that warranted clearer guidelines and greater transparency.
Rockliff said Ogilvie’s matter was before the Supreme Court, while Howlett had “provided adequate answers” to parliament.
Labor leader Josh Willie rejected that distinction and accused the premier of applying a double standard.
He has asked why the premier had not taken the same step of moving Howlett out of cabinet as he had with Ogilvie.
“Minister Howlett is in exactly the same circumstances and it seems like there’s a different standard. She’s unable to answer questions, yet Premier Rockliff promoted her and has kept her in cabinet,” Willie said.
“She’s in exactly the same circumstances and it’s up to the premier to explain why he’s treating two ministers differently.”
Willie said the apology was not genuine and had come only because the premier was under pressure.
He said Labor would use parliament to “hold this government accountable”.
The Greens and some independents have also said they want further answers and have flagged possible action if they are not provided.
Rockliff said he would respond to the Greens’ questions by Friday and would continue meeting crossbenchers.
