Focus on Brooks delay

A STATE Government MP who quit as minister over his business email account is now feeling the heat from a conservative and former decadeslong Liberal Party member over the unresolved saga, with the potential for it to ignite pre-election.

Liberal MP Adam Brooks, whose brief ministerial career ended last June when he resigned over a perception of a conflict of interest between his business interests and resources portfolio, said he remained “absolutely committed” to a Crown Solicitor audit of his account, which has been stalled by his personal divorce proceedings.

But lawyer and Liberal Party member on and off for 30 years, Glynn Williams, said there was no sound legal reason for the secrecy to date and delayed audit.

“I’m not sure how that case was made out,” said Mr Williams, who is also Primary Em- ployers Tasmania president and Poppy Growers Tasmania vice-president.

“That natural thing is he should disclose those matters.

“It creates a doubt if it’s not made public.”

Mr Williams, who has twice failed to get Liberal preselection in Braddon, in the state’s North-West and West, said Mr Brooks could face heat even from his own side in a rugged Hare-Clark contest next March if the matter was not resolved soon.

“I would like to know, and I’m sure there are people involved in the (mining) sector who would like to know, so it could be cleared up,” Mr Williams said.

Mr Brooks said Mr Williams had little credibility commenting on his situation.

“I appreciate the gratuitous advice from Mr Williams, but given he ran against the Liberal Party at the last election I suggest people should take his advice with more than a grain of salt,” Mr Brooks said.

“In relation to the audit, the fact is I absolutely did nothing wrong and the Acting Secretary of the Department has given all the decisions I took the clean bill of health.

“Having said that, in relation to my divorce there are still matters to be resolved regarding the settlement and a confidentiality clause means I cannot comment further, than to say I absolutely remain committed to the audit.

“The people of Braddon can clearly see I am delivering strongly for them despite not being in Cabinet — for example, on both the seal dumping ban and opening 4WD tracks.”

Mr Brooks’ resignation followed his answers in budget estimates, where he wrongly denied three times he still had an email with his mining services company.

Mr Brooks said the email was for personal use only.

He was stood down by Premier Will Hodgman and soon after resigned from Cabinet.