MICHAEL STEDMAN
REVELATIONS MP Allison Ritchie has two sisters working for her, has sparked a call for an inquiry into family appointments.
The Liberal Opposition has called for a full review of family members employed in Government offices after it was confirmed Labor Upper House member Ms Ritchie has two sisters working in her office.
Ms Ritchie’s mother also worked as a part-time speech writer and researcher from September 2007 to November 2008.
It has also been revealed Braddon backbencher Brenton Best employs his wife part-time, Lyons backbencher Heather Butler’s daughter works in the office of the Police Minister Jim Cox and her husband Geoff Butler is employed as an electoral officer.
Liberal leader Will Hodgman said it was not a good look and called for an investigation into other family appointments across Government.
“No one should be denied an opportunity to work simply because of who they are or who they are related to,” Mr Hodgman said.
“But what we don’t want to see in Tasmania is a situation where family members are employed for reasons other than merit or where there is no justification.
Mr Bartlett said he had a clear policy when it came to the employment of family members.
“I have made it clear to every member who has brought a proposal to me to employ a family member that I will not sign such a contract unless a proper, thorough, full exhaustive process has been gone through to find someone other than the family member to fill the position,” he told Parliament.
Mr Hodgman said that should apply retrospectively to appointments made before Mr Bartlett became Premier.
“He has once again tried to draw a line in the sand and say `none of this had anything to do with me’ but that is a weak response to abrogate responsibility for dealing with what is a tricky problem,” Mr Hodgman said. Read more here
