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Tasmanian Government Spent Over $300,000 on Racing Minister's Legal Fees

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Tasmanian Racing Minister's Legal Fees Exceed $300,000

The Tasmanian state government has spent more than $300,000 on legal fees for Racing Minister Jane Howlett since July 2023. This significant expenditure was disclosed during recent parliamentary Estimates hearings.

Following intense questioning by the Tasmanian Greens, Treasurer Eric Abetz confirmed the total legal fees for Ms. Howlett amounted to $303,800. Mr. Abetz stated these funds were spent "in the execution of her official duties," a sentiment echoed by a government spokesperson who added the fees were paid "in line with indemnity protocols."

Treasurer Eric Abetz confirmed the total fees expended for Ms. Howlett amounted to $303,800, stating these funds were spent "in the execution of her official duties."

Other Ministers' Legal Expenses

Attorney-General Guy Barnett and Environment Minister Madeleine Ogilvie also reported using public funds for legal fees. Ms. Ogilvie's legal expenses specifically totaled $120,494. Other government ministers present at the hearings, however, stated they had not used public funds for such fees.

Government Indemnity Protocols and Precedents

The discussions also highlighted the established ability for Cabinet to approve legal indemnity for ministers encountering legal matters arising from their official roles. This practice has a recent precedent: in 2020, Cabinet approved over $300,000 in public funds for then-cabinet minister Michael Ferguson's personal defamation action.

Cabinet has the ability to approve legal indemnity for ministers, with a 2020 precedent seeing over $300,000 approved for Michael Ferguson's defamation action.

Transparency Concerns

Questions about the transparency of these expenditures have also emerged. A Right to Information (RTI) request submitted by the ABC, seeking details on government ministers' legal fees since 2024, yielded limited results. The request resulted in the return of only one de-identified invoice for $14,926, while other requested invoices were notably refused by the government.