Premier Jeremy Rockliff has confirmed he knew former-minister Madeleine Ogilvie was involved in Supreme Court proceedings before she denied any such involvement to a parliamentary committee.
The confirmation came in a five-page letter Rockliff sent to crossbench MPs on Thursday, answering 20 questions about the case.
The questions came from seven crossbenchers – four Greens and three independents – who wrote to Rockliff on June 7.
Ogilvie told a budget estimates hearing in November 2025 that she had not been party to any Supreme Court matter. She later tabled a written “clarification”.
She told parliament she was party to a case she had initiated on May 28. She resigned from cabinet two days later, on May 30.
In the letter, Rockliff was asked whether he was aware of the proceeding before Ogilvie’s November statement. He answered: “Yes.”
He said he was told in the week after estimates that she had answered a question and then made a clarification, but did not look into it further at the time.
“I did not interrogate that matter at the time,” he wrote. “As I have stated publicly already, I should have.”
Rockliff said his office “had input” into the statement Ogilvie made on May 28, though he personally gave no feedback.
He also wrote that he did not seek “formal” legal advice about what he could discuss before this year’s budget estimates, where he and his ministers declined to answer questions about the matter.
Rockliff again apologised for his handling of the matter.
“I accept that I should have insisted on a more appropriate correction to the record,” he wrote.
“I regret that I did not do so and I apologise.”
“I understand that this issue has raised concerns not only about process, but about the broader question of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.”
“These concerns are legitimate and I take them seriously.”
The government has said taxpayers spent around $120,000 on Ogilvie’s legal fees between 2023 and 2025. Cabinet signed off on the bills.
The case remains under a suppression order. Its subject matter, the other party and the timeline have not been made public.
The premier said he had instructed his department to draft reforms to improve public reporting of legal costs where MPs are granted indemnity.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the “straight answers” from the premier were welcome.
“The problem is those answers paint a far worse picture of this shameful saga and his role in it,” Woodruff said.
“The premier’s letter reveals at a minimum his office played a central role in covering up that Madeleine Ogilvie had misled parliament and her secret court case itself.”
Independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston said the crossbench group would take time to consider its response.
“The group including myself will today give the premier’s response careful consideration before responding,” Johnston said.
Parliament returns next week.
