Labor’s little helper

Margaretta Pos in Hobart writes (Thursday, Mar 9):

A skilled operator in the labyrinth of Labor politics is working in Premier Paul Lennon’s office in the lead-up to the 18 March Tasmanian election. Following a tip off to Tasmanian Times we can reveal that the man in question is Jody Fassina, a former MacBank spinner who once worked for Peter Cook, then Labor’s deputy leader in the Senate.

Fassina is believed to be factionally aligned with the ALP independents but rumours abound that he is also linked to factional warlord Stephen Conroy. Crikey put in a call to Conroy’s office this morning and was told that Fassina had never worked for Conroy. But if we wanted to speak to Fassina, she had his number and would pass on the request. We did and do, but he hasn’t rung back.

Fassina is believed to be a consultant and Crikey hears that a PR firm headhunted him, acting on the Lennon Government’s behalf to find someone who knows how to grease the wheels during the election campaign.

It’s been a grubby campaign all round but yesterday Lennon’s lads were forced to admit they had dredged up dubious dirt on the Greens, suggesting they had a shady front company to hide $750,000 in donations. After their role was revealed by Lennon’s chief-of-staff and former Launceston Examiner editor, Rod Scott, and Labor’s Government Leader of Business in the Legislative Council, Michael Aird, accepted responsibility. Looking like a startled rabbit in the spotlight, Aird tried to brave it out at a media conference.

This morning on ABC Radio’s AM program, it was revealed that “a disgruntled staffer” in Lennon’s office had told the ABC that there was indeed a dirt unit in operation, with “volunteers” working alongside paid staffers.

Meanwhile, Crikey rang Lennon’s chief media advisor, Matthew Rogers, to ask him about Fassina’s job — but he’s refusing to speak to Crikey because we called him an “attack dog.” Funny that. Matthew was once a fearless Mercury political reporter who dubbed then Premier Jim Bacon “The Emperor,” a term which stuck. Bacon was so enraged he refused to speak to Rogers. In due course Rogers winged his way to London, where he worked as a journo, only to return to work for Bacon.

And,

Christian Kerr writes:

There was an interesting story on AM today in which a staffer in Tassie Premier Paul Lennon’s office spoke out about the influx of shady operatives to help fight the election.

ANNIE GUEST: A disgruntled member of the Premier’s 30 staff has spoken privately to the ABC, saying concern over the Government’s denial of a dirt unit motivated the job jeopardising decision.

The issue erupted when allegations about a company partly owned by Greens politicians were faxed anonymously to journalists, and an email containing similar information was traced to the Premier’s Chief of Staff, Rod Scott.

Yesterday the Government admitted the Premier’s office was behind the information but described it as legitimate business.

Legitimate business? Perhaps, in one sense. Negative research on opponents has long been a standard practice of politics — imported from the United States — and commonplace in Australia since the 1990s. But how did the ABC manage to swallow this outrageous dodge?

The insider says it’s a blatant misuse of taxpayers’ dollars.

But a spokesman for the Premier, Paul Lennon, reiterated there is no dirt unit. He says any additional staff in the Premier’s office are volunteers.

Pardon? It doesn’t matter what capacity you do it in. As a paid staffer, a borrowed staffer, a hired-gun consultant or a volunteer, you’re still a dirt unit. This morning’s spin from Paul Lennon’s office is entirely disingenuous. That the ABC would accept it, and not push this point home, is truly remarkable.

The Examiner’s report: Staffer confirms dirt unit