Gutwein spurns push for probe into ‘misleading minister’
A PUSH has been made for a formal investigation into Liberal MP Roger Jaensch’s alleged breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
However, Premier Peter Gutwe in said he would not launch an inquiry as the minister had the government’ s full support.
Mr Jaensch was accused of deliberately misleading parliament after saying that he was unaware of plans to amend laws that covered public housing evictions.
Labor leader Rebecca White wrote to Mr Gut we in on Sunday requesting he direct an “arm’s length and independent assessment” into the matter.
“It is the Premier’s responsibility to ensure that his ministers display the highest standards of honesty and integrity ,” she said.
“It is vital that the Premier now directs an independent assessment of Jaensch’s breach to ensure the Ministerial Code of Conduct is now up held. “This issue isn’ t going away .” Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said there needed to be a debate in parliament. “The Liberals were foolish not to let the debate proceed on Thursday because the question of confidence in the minister and whether the house does have confidence hangs over Minister Jaensch from now until we have the debate ,” she said.
Mr Gut we in said the real issue was that Ms O’Connor had “knowingly orchestrated a political stunt” using cabinet-inconfidence information she came across as a result of a public servant’ s error. And now it’ s clear Rebecca White and the Labor Party have nothing better to do than ride on the coat-tails of the Greens in a desperate attempt to gain relevance and ahead line.
“How Labor and the Greens choose to waste their time is a matter for them—my focus is on rebuilding Tasmania as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19.”