Government desperate to cover up as Rockliff confirms $188K payout

 Rockliff hands disgraced former CEO $188K but can’t explain why he received it
 Minister tried to hide payout until pressure got too much
 Rockliff cannot hide behind thin excuses and must provide proof by releasing contract
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has taken the Hodgman Liberal Government’s desperation to bury the TasTAFE scandal to the next level, confirming a $188,000 payout to the disgraced former CEO but refusing to detail why he received it.
Shadow Education Minister Michelle O’Byrne said after reneging on a commitment to release the quarterly findings and recommendations of an audit into TAFE and blatantly withholding the organisation’s annual report beyond the legal deadline, Mr Rockliff was now unwilling to explain why the CEO received the payment in the midst of serious allegations of misconduct.
“The facts are these: an Integrity Commission investigation uncovered very serious allegations of misconduct, including allegations of nepotism and government credit card misuse,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“The CEO subsequently resigned. But today it’s been revealed in the TasTAFE annual report that he received a $188,000 “termination” payment courtesy of Tasmanian taxpayers and there are very serious questions about why this payout was handed over when officially the CEO resigned after allegations of serious misconduct came into play.
“There are now extremely serious but basic questions for the Minister to answer and it is time for some honesty around this mess.
“The only way to clear this debacle up is for the government and Mr Rockliff to release the former CEO’s contract so Tasmanians can see for themselves any terms and conditions that would have permitted this payout of almost $200,000.
“Anything less – just like the Minister’s refusal to share the details of the TasTAFE audit and just like the Minister’s barefaced attempt to bury the TasTAFE annual report until the pressure became too much for him – smacks of a shameless cover-up.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP Shadow Education Minister