Crossbench MPs demand answers from Tasmanian premier, issue ultimatum

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has been issued an ultimatum by members of the crossbench who are demanding he reveal when he first learned that former minister Madeleine Ogilvie had allegedly misled parliament.

They say they reserve the right to use "parliamentary options" to pursue the matter further if Mr Rockliff does not provide "direct and exact answers" by Friday morning.

Ms Ogilvie resigned from cabinet on May 30, saying she did not want the government to be distracted after answering a question "poorly".

In November last year, she told a parliamentary committee she had not been a subject or a party to any Supreme Court action in the previous 18 months.

But late last month, Ms Ogilvie confirmed she had initiated action in the court, prompting allegations that she had misled parliament.

The premier and his ministers were grilled over the matter in budget estimates hearings last week, but declined to provide further information about who knew what and when.

Instead, they repeatedly said it was a complex matter due to confidentiality requirements and could not comment further.

But today, four Greens MPs and three independents — Kristie Johnston, Peter George and Helen Burnet — sent a letter to Mr Rockliff.

It accuses him and his ministers of stonewalling questions, and demands he provide clarity about the situation.

"There is no satisfactory explanation for your repeated refusal to answer straightforward questions during Budget Estimates hearings in the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council [last] week," it states.

"Your non-answers have shown profound disrespect to the Parliament and the Tasmanian people."

In addition to the claims about her misleading parliament, the letter outlines what the signatories describe as "some basic facts", including:

Approximately $120,000 in taxpayer funds was spent on Ms Ogilvie's legal fees between 2023 and 2025, relating to her ministerial duties.

Public officers (such as Ms Ogilvie), who are provided with taxpayer funds for legal fees must notify the relevant responsible officer (in this case Mr Rockliff) of legal proceedings they are involved in.

In budget estimates last week, Mr Rockliff confirmed that these guidelines were followed.

Only cabinet can approve the amount of funding provided to Ms Ogilvie for her legal fees.

"Given these facts, it is our contention that you and members of Cabinet were in a position to know that Ms Ogilvie had misled Parliament prior to the matter being raised in Parliament in May," the letter reads.

"Further, we contend that once this matter was raised in Question Time on 21 May, you — and likely your Cabinet colleagues — must have been aware that Ms Ogilvie had misled Parliament.

"Despite this, you did not act at that time.

"This is a clear failure of your duties under the Ministerial Code of Conduct, and of basic integrity standards."

They say the code places responsibility for ministerial integrity "squarely with you as Premier".

The letter demands that Mr Rockliff answer a total of 30 questions by 9am on Friday.

Five of the questions relate to dates, including when Mr Rockliff first became aware that Ms Ogilvie's statement to the parliamentary hearing in November was not accurate.

The remaining 25 questions ask him to provide "yes or no" responses to a range of matters, including:

Whether he was aware Ms Ogilvie was involved in a Supreme Court hearing prior to her appearance at the November parliamentary hearings.

Whether he or anyone in his office provided input to a written statement she read out in Parliament on May 28 in response to a question about the issue.

Whether he sought legal advice about what matters he could and could not discuss at last week's budget estimates hearings in relation to Ms Ogilvie.

"Should direct and exact answers to all these questions not be forthcoming, we reserve the right to use the parliamentary options available to us to pursue the required accountability owed to Tasmanians," the letter reads.

Labor calls for scrutiny to be widened

Labor has welcomed the letter, but called for the scrutiny to be widened to include Racing Minister Jane Howlett.

In March, it was revealed that Ms Howlett had spent more than $300,000 of public money on legal fees in the course of her ministerial duties since 2023.

The government said the legal fees were paid "in line with indemnity protocols".

During budget estimates hearings in parliament last week, Labor MP Dean Winter asked Ms Howlett a series of questions, including whether she was the subject of an Integrity Commission investigation known as "Loyetea".

The Loyetea investigation relates to an alleged failure to declare or manage a conflict of interest, and misuse of information.

Ms Howlett told the hearing:

"These are complex matters, particularly given confidentiality requirements, and I won't be commenting any further."

Today, Mr Winter said it was untenable for her to remain in her role as a minister.

"We now have one minister gone and the other minister holding on for grim life and being unable to answer a single question," he said.

Mr Winter noted that when Ms Ogilvie resigned, she said she was having to choose between upholding her legal obligations in relation to a suppression order, or providing information that the Greens had sought in relation to her court action.

She said she has ultimately decided to maintain confidentiality.

Mr Winter said a similar outcome should apply for Ms Howlett.

"If Jane Howlett can't answer simple questions about whether she's in the Supreme Court, whether she's under investigation by the Integrity Commission, then she should do the same thing as Madeleine Ogilvie did and resign."

Ms Howlett was last week given some of Ms Ogilvie's former ministerial portfolios, including Arts, Community and Multicultural Affairs.

The ABC has contacted the government for a response.