Having carefully considered Labor’s letter to the Premier about Minister Jane Howlett’s position, the Greens agree the Minister should be stood down from Cabinet if she cannot or will not answer questions about the legal matter she’s involved in, for which $300,000 has been incurred so far.
The Ministerial Code of Conduct sets clear expectations about Ministers’ behaviour. These include that they should act with the highest standards of integrity. The Premier’s admission that Minister Howlett’s conduct is under active consideration for alleged wrongdoing is evidence that we can’t be confident she meets that standard. If it was any other public servant facing these circumstances, they would be stood down pending an outcome.
The Code also says Ministers must be accountable in the performance of their duties. Whether through unwillingness or for other reasons, Minister Howlett does not meet this standard. She has repeatedly refused to answer the most straightforward questions – including those that in no way could be seen to breach any confidentiality requirements.
Minister Howlett has given no explanation for why she cannot, at minimum, take the same step as Madeleine Ogilvie in revealing the most basic fact of her legal matter – whether or not it involves a court proceeding. If Ms Ogilvie could say she was in court, why couldn’t Ms Howlett say if she is?
The Greens have given the Minister the opportunity to deny the idea she is in the Supreme Court. Labor has done the same regarding whether she is the subject of an Integrity Commission investigation. The Minister has not ruled out either possibility.
The fundamental question about Minister Howlett’s position is this: is it acceptable for someone to maintain their position as Minister of the Crown when allegations of wrongdoing against them are under active consideration, they are receiving huge amounts of taxpayer money to defend themselves against those allegations, and they refuse to provide answers to simple questions about any of this?
The Greens’ answer to this question is no, it’s not acceptable. In fact, the situation is untenable.
Given the hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer funding she has received, our expectation is that Minister Howlett, as the Ministerial Code of Conduct requires, should provide an accounting to Tasmanians for why that is.
If she can’t answer questions about the matter – whether because she doesn’t want to or she can’t – the Minister should be stood down from her position until it is resolved and answers can be provided.
