Breaking: Ogilvie's portfolios to be redistributed in Tasmanian cabinet

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 10:32am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 10:32am

In short:

The Tasmanian government has opted not to replace Madeleine Ogilvie in cabinet following her resignation, instead redistributing her portfolios among existing ministers.

The move reduces cabinet size from 11 to 10 and is expected to save more than $1 million a year, according to the premier.

Ms Ogilvie resigned last week over allegations she had misled parliament over whether she was involved in any Supreme Court actions.

The Tasmanian government will not appoint a new cabinet minister to replace Madeleine Ogilvie, instead redistributing her portfolios to other ministers.

Deputy Premier Guy Barnett will take on the environment portfolio, while Parks Minister Nick Duigan will add heritage, Jane Howlett will take over arts, and the science and digital innovation portfolio goes to Felix Ellis.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the reduction in the number of ministers, along with associated staffing changes, would lead to a saving of more than $1 million a year.

Backbencher Marcus Vermey will become Parliamentary Secretary of Small Business and Community and Multicultural Affairs.

Ms Ogilvie resigned last week over allegations she had misled parliament.

The allegations about misleading parliament related to an answer she provided at a budget estimates hearing last year.

Ms Ogilvie was asked whether she had been involved in any Supreme Court action in the previous 18 months.

She said: "No".

But it was revealed in parliament last week that she was a party to proceedings that she had initiated.

When she resigned, Ms Ogilvie said she had answered the question "poorly" and did not want the government to be distracted by the matter.

Before her resignation, she was part of an 11-member cabinet.

The new cabinet will feature a team of 10 ministers.

Ms Ogilvie had been a Liberal government minister for four years.

Before that, she was an independent, and prior to that a Labor MP.