There is a cloud over Minister Madeleine Ogilvie’s integrity after her response to a Greens question in Parliament.
In Budget Estimates last November, the Greens asked Minister Ogilvie if she’d been a subject or party to any Supreme Court matters in the previous 18 months. She gave a simple one word answer: “no”.
Done and dusted, right? Well, apparently not.
The Greens subsequently exposed the fact the Minister had racked up $120,000 in taxpayer-funded legal costs, which caused us to wonder how she could have done so without being involved in a court matter? With the government’s refusal to answer basic questions about Liberal MP legal fees in the spotlight recently, our curiosity was piqued and we asked Ms Ogilvie about this matter.
Our question to the Minister was whether she stood by her statement from Estimates 2025, or whether there was any kind of correction she needed to make to the House. Minister Ogilvie refused to answer the question, and pivoted to talk about other things. During our follow up question, she refused to even leave her chair and answer.
Madeleine Ogilvie’s refusal to repeat her statement from Estimates last year raises real questions. If she had provided a truthful answer in Estimates, why wouldn’t she repeat the same in the House? If her answer in Estimates was false, why hasn’t she corrected the record?
Given the Minister’s clumsy dodging and weaving today, we are now concerned she has not been honest with Parliament about this matter. Through her own actions, the Minister has put a cloud over her integrity.
Minister Ogilvie is now on notice. The Greens will not let this matter go.
