Tasmania’s racing minister has attempted to bat away Labor questioning over what her office knew about an apparent breach to election caretaker conventions as “nothing but a misogynist attack”.
Jane Howlett has continued to face extensive questioning in parliament over a text message sent from Tasracing to racing industry participants, along with a public statement, during last year’s election campaign.
The message from the government-owned business spoke favourably of the Liberals’ signature TasInsure policy and was later retracted due to concerns about it breaching election guidelines.
Caretaker conventions outline that government resources should not be used for party political purposes. Tasracing denied it was intended to be a “political statement or endorsement”.
In fiery exchanges in parliament on Thursday morning, Ms Howlett hit back at Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad’s questioning, asking how she felt with it being International Women’s Week, while Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Labor was “being played by cashed-up mainland greyhound thugs”.
Labor’s Ella Haddad asked questions of Ms Howlett in parliament. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)
The questions were based on emails obtained by the ABC under right to information, which showed Ms Howlett’s office was aware of the Tasracing communications before they were sent out.
The emails show that Tasracing’s public relations consultant had contacted Ms Howlett’s senior adviser Luke Gaetani about the messaging the day before and made him aware of it.
The email from the consultant reads “Luke says ok for tonight now”, referring to Mr Gaetani.
Ms Howlett denied in parliament several times previously that her office was aware it would be sent out as a text message.
Jane Howlett’s Facebook page also shared Tasracing’s statement during the campaign about the Liberal election policy. (Facebook: Jane Howlett)
Labor argued she had misled parliament, but Ms Howlett stood by her argument that her office did not know of the communications method.
‘Nothing but a misogynist attack’
In answers to questions on Thursday, Ms Howlett said her senior adviser, Mr Gaetani, provided information to stakeholders about the TasInsure policy on July 2.
“My adviser takes full responsibility for not understanding the context in which he answered stakeholder questions about the policy,” she said.
Labor’s Ella Haddad asked why Ms Howlett’s office did not think Tasracing intended to communicate the contents of the briefing publicly — including positive comments — given Mr Gaetani was in contact with Tasracing’s public relations consultant.
‘Luke says ok’: Minister’s office aware of ‘egregious’ election message
Ms Howlett then argued the questioning was misogynistic.
“This is nothing but a misogynist attack,” she told Ms Haddad.
“How do you feel as International Women’s Week, Ms Haddad? How do you feel?
“Are you inspiring women to enter parliament?”
Ms Haddad told parliament that the comments “devalue” the experiences of misogyny.
“International Women’s Day means not treating us softer as others, it means treating us the same, holding us to account just the same as I would any male minister,” she said.
“To misuse and to weaponise a word like misogynistic actually does a disservice, not only to all women, but to men as well.”
Mr Rockliff also launched an attack on Labor, claiming the party was attacking Ms Howlett due to the government’s upcoming ban on greyhound racing.
“You are being played by cashed-up mainland greyhound thugs,” he told Mr Willie.
“Mainland greyhound thugs that want to stop the ban on greyhounds, they are playing with him, and you are dancing to [former Labor leader Dean Winter]’s tune.
“That’s what it’s all about.”
Rockliff ‘satisfied with the explanation’
Mr Rockliff sent a letter to Mr Willie on February 4 to confirm that the head of the state service had looked into the matter.
“I am satisfied with the explanation provided to the [head of the state service] and the manner in which the Tasracing board responded to the issue,” he wrote.
“I am also satisfied with the minister’s assurance that the minister did not direct the company or its officers to distribute the material.”
Labor has called on Jane Howlett to resign. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)
Mr Willie said the parliament needed to get to the bottom of how taxpayer resources were used to send out a message that spoke favourably of a Liberal policy during an election.
“How did Tasracing get that information? Why was the minister’s office involved in communicating with a communications firm that was working for Tasracing?” he said.
The ABC understands the firm contacted Mr Gaetani as a courtesy that is extended to relevant ministers’ offices prior to communications being sent out.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday evening, Labor racing spokesperson Dean Winter said there were still unanswered questions.
“I find the idea that the minister for racing didn’t know about the text message during the election campaign difficult to believe, extremely difficult to believe,” he said.
Labor requests RTI document
The ABC received the emails under RTI on December 23, before making follow-up RTI requests in an attempt to disclose further information about how the Tasracing message came to be.
These did not reveal further information.
Tasracing did not publish the RTI on a public log, nor would it provide the RTI to Labor upon request on Wednesday and Thursday, instead responding:
“Tasracing is not in a position to forward RTI information and has no further comment to make.”
RTIs are generally placed on public logs by government departments, but few government businesses do this.
RTIs are public documents and are usually provided to interested parties upon request.
On Thursday, Labor moved a motion in parliament to order the emails be released.
Labor has moved a motion in parliament to order emails be released. (ABC News: Kate Nickels)