Labor is calling for a full investigation after Tasracing sent text messages promoting a Liberal Party policy during the state election campaign.
Labor MP Dean Winter raised the matter in parliament on Tuesday, demanding answers about messages sent to racing industry participants spruiking the Liberals’ TasInsure policy.
The text message read: “Tasracing is pleased to advise that TasInsure, a Tasmanian insurer that will be established by a Liberal Government if re-elected, will provide workers compensation insurance among its products…”
A now-deleted website article was also posted on the Tasracing website with the headline: TasInsure expected to extend to racing industry workers compensation.
Winter described it as “potentially unlawful behaviour” and asked Premier Jeremy Rockliff to order an investigation into whether Tasracing or its employees breached the State Service Act.
Rockliff said it was “an operational matter and a decision made by the company Tasracing”.
He said he was “happy to seek some advice on that matter” but stopped short of committing to an investigation.
Winter afterwards said the premier must follow through.
“This isn’t a minor lapse in judgement. It is one of the most serious integrity breaches we’ve seen from a government business enterprise in years,” he said.
“Tasracing inserted itself into a live election campaign to push the Liberal Party’s political message, using taxpayer-funded infrastructure and staff to do it.”
Tasracing is a state-owned company with the treasurer and racing minister holding shares on behalf of Tasmanians.
The State Service Act requires public sector bodies to be ‘apolitical, performing its functions in an impartial, ethical and professional manner’.
Caretaker conventions state that government employees should not ‘engage in activities of a political nature while on duty’ and that ‘extra care is required during the caretaker period’.
TasRacing Chair Gene Phair last week told a parliamentary scrutiny committee that he had “no knowledge of the text message going out, let alone who instigated it at the time.”
“The first time that I was aware of a message … I immediately contacted the CEO to say … that it should be taken down. That’s all I know of it,” he said.
TasInsure was the Liberals’ signature election policy, promising to establish a state-owned insurer it said will reduce premiums for households and businesses.
