After months of scrutiny from the Greens, our questions in Parliament have finally revealed the taxpayer money spent on Minister Jane Howlett’s legal fees.
A whopping $303,800.44 has been spent paying for lawyers for Minister Howlett since July 2023, but she hasn’t told the public what for.
It’s a simply astounding figure. How has Minister Howlett managed to wrack up more than $300,000 in legal fees in two and a half years? $2,200 a week on lawyers doesn’t just happen for no reason.
The government’s line that this is about “official business” is just spin. When her Cabinet colleagues decided to approve spending on Minister Howlett’s legal fees, they also made a decision that this legal matter – whatever it is – would be classified official business.
The real question remains, exactly why has this Minister had to spend so much on lawyers?
Minister Howlett hasn’t provided any answers. If she has incurred these legal fees for a legitimate reason, she should be willing to give the public more information about what that was for.
Why the secrecy? Is there something Minister Howlett has to hide?
We know Michael Ferguson had a very similar amount of taxpayer money spent on legal fees for a lengthy court battle. Has Minister Howlett been in court too?
With a number of questions remaining unanswered about this Minister’s conduct, it’s vitally important she starts being honest with Tasmanians.
This is public money. The public deserves to know why they’ve forked out such a large amount of money for Minister Howlett’s legal fees.
Minister Howlett needs to give Tasmanians some answers.
