Former Tasmanian government minister Jane Howlett has run up $405,000 in taxpayer-funded legal fees, parliament has heard, just over an hour after she publicly quit cabinet.
The figure has jumped by about $101,000 in three months, up from the $303,800 last disclosed to the public in March.
Labor MP and shadow integrity minister Ella Haddad asked Premier Jeremy Rockliff for an updated figure on Tuesday afternoon.
“The last update that Tasmanians received on how much taxpayers’ money has been spent on Jane Howlett’s private legal fees was three months ago and at that time it was a total of $303,800,” Haddad said.
“How much is the total now?”
Rockliff said the latest figure had been provided through the budget estimates process in a question on notice.
“The answer will be $405,000,” he said.
The bill has been racking up since July 2023. Howlett has refused to say what the money was spent on, describing it only as part of her official ministerial duties.
The secrecy drew sustained calls from Labor and the Greens for her to be stood down.
Howlett will stay on as the Liberal member for Lyons.
