*Pic: Mercury pic of Ian Hanke here
Labor Leader Bryan Green has condemned Liberal Government’s secrecy following revelations Will Hodgman has employed a fly-in, fly-out spin doctor on a pro rata salary of more than $230,000.
The Government has engaged Victorian-based media fixer and professional Liberal campaigner Ian Hanke to work in the Premier’s office on as as-needs basis.
Mr Green said the appointment was extraordinary, particularly in light of Mr Hanke’s well publicised work on the Liberal Party’s 2014 election campaign.
Mr Hanke does not appear on any official staff lists and his job description and responsibilities are unclear.
Similarly, Right To Information documents on ministerial employees did not make any mention of the appointment.
“This is cloak and dagger stuff – Will Hodgman must explain whether Mr Hanke is being rewarded for running the Liberal Party dirt unit during the election campaign,” Mr Green said.
“It is not good enough for Mr Hodgman to be employing Liberal mates at the taxpayers’ expense when he is slashing the public service and freezing workers’ pay.
“It is the height of arrogance and hypocrisy for the Liberals to impose a real wage cut on cleaners, teachers and nurses while paying top dollar for a FIFO spin doctor.”
• Mercury: Liberal spin doctor pockets $20,000 for one month’s work
LIBERAL Party spin doctor Ian Hanke has so far netted $20,000 for a month’s work as part of a fly in, fly out consultancy contract with the Tasmanian Government.
Right to Information documents show Mr Hanke, who also advises Essendon Football Club coach James Hird, is on a pro-rata contract of $197,000-$236,399 a year – although he only works when needed.
His appointment is despite a Liberal Party pledge before the March state election that consultancies would be cut as a way to repair the Budget.
Details provided to the Mercury from the Department of Premier and Cabinet yesterday under Right to Information showed Mr Hanke “is engaged for the term of the Government”, “works on request, as and when required to do so by the Premier’s chief of staff”, is paid only for the days actually worked, provides policy and media advisory services and so far has been paid $20,559.
