Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to say what he knew about taxpayer-funded legal fees racked up by a former minister in a secret Supreme Court case, as his treasurer revealed cabinet had signed off on the bills.
The issue dominated the opening of budget estimates on Monday, with Labor and the Greens accusing Rockliff of a cover-up over what he knew about Ogilvie’s alleged misleading of parliament.
Ogilvie quit cabinet and moved to the backbench over the weekend.
She has said she cannot reveal details of the case because it is under a suppression order. Her legal fees have so far cost taxpayers more than $120,000.
The controversy began in November, when Ogilvie told a parliamentary committee she had not been party to any Supreme Court matter in the previous 18 months.
Three days later, she tabled a written statement intended to clarify that answer. Last week, she admitted she had been involved in such a case all along.
Throughout Monday morning, Rockliff gave the same response to dozens of questions about when cabinet signed off on the fees and when he learned of the case.
“These are complex matters, particularly given confidentiality requirements and I won’t be commenting any further,” he said.
He would only say he accepted Ogilvie’s statement and acknowledged her apology to the house.
Labor leader Josh Willie pressed him repeatedly, but failed to get a direct answer.
“One of your ministers has deliberately misled a committee and you did nothing to get her to correct the record,” Willie said.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff accused the premier of using the suppression order as a shield, saying he had dodged 44 questions on the issue.
She also questioned why public money should fund private lawyers.
Rockliff defended the guidelines, saying people were innocent until proven otherwise, but agreed any minister found to have engaged in misconduct would have to repay the money.
In a separate hearing, Treasurer Eric Abetz confirmed cabinet had approved the costs, but said the decision was made before he entered parliament in 2024.
“As I understand it, that occurred before my election,” Abetz said. “I wasn’t part of that particular one.”
“I would assume that the expenditure at the time was known to my cabinet colleagues,” Abetz said.
Rockliff said he would seek advice on whether any other ministers had launched court action.
