Plea for help betrayed

Hodgman in damage control over cricket worker’s dismissal

PREMIER Will Hodgman says there was nothing sinister about a phone conversation between his Health Minister and the CEO of Cricket Tasmania before a staff member was sacked over her tweets on abortion policy.

Angela Williamson is suing Cricket Australia for wrongful dismissal over social media posts that were critical of the State Government and called for better access to affordable abortion in Tasmania.

Mr Hodgman yesterday insisted that no member of the Tasmanian Government — and especially not Health Minister Michael Ferguson — had sought to “pressure, complain or seek action” in the matter.

Labor has called for an inquiry into the Government’s role in the matter.

Ms Williamson says she shared the story of being forced to travel to Melbourne for an abortion confidentially while lobbying Government members on the issue, but says that information was passed on to her employer.

“I only told who I trusted. Who I trusted would keep it withheld and who would respect what I was trying to achieve,” she said. “It was not anyone else’s story to pass on and it certainly wasn’t anyone else’s story to pass to either colleagues, or an employer, or anyone that works in Cricket Australia or Cricket Tasmania. There was no need.”

Mr Hodgman yesterday revealed Mr Ferguson had spoken with Cricket Tasmania CEO Nick Cummins prior to Ms Williamson’s dismissal.

“The matter will be investigated by the Fair Work Commission,” he said.

“There are other avenues that opposition parties can take but as I said yesterday, very clearly, there was no at- tempt to influence Cricket Tasmania by any member of the Tasmanian Government.”

Mr Hodgman said in a statement “the Government has always had a good working relationship with Ms Williamson”.

His comment was despite the resignation of a senior adviser caught using fake accounts to report Ms Williamson’s tweets to Cricket Australia shortly before the March election. The adviser subsequently resigned.

Mr Hodgman said he would not reveal what was said between Mr Ferguson and Mr Cummins.

Mr Cummins said he was unable to comment as the matter was the subject of litigation.

Shadow Health Minister Sarah Lovell said an inquiry was needed.

“An independent and thorough investigation is required now. The Premier’s word that his right hand man didn’t cross the line is not good enough.

“The Premier and Michael Ferguson are both neck deep in this terrible situation following the admission that Premier Hodgman’s principal adviser, Martine Haley, trolled Ms Williamson earlier this year, and Mr Ferguson’s comments in the media this week.”