Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader, 2 October 2020
Jaensch is Trying to Gaslight Tasmanians over Cabinet Decision
Human Services Minister, Roger Jaensch, has lied to Tasmanians again.
Finally out of hiding from the media for a week, Roger Jaensch told ABC Mornings, ‘no decision was made’ to weaken tenancy protections prior to the pandemic.
A decision most certainly was made, and then reversed in a Cabinet decision on 24 August this year. We have a Cabinet decision to prove it.
This is not about a ‘gotcha moment’ as Minister Jaensch claims. This is about the 13,000 social housing tenants, whose legal protections were to be weakened.
It is also deeply worrying that a Minister who so struggles to tell the truth is responsible for Tasmania’s at-risk children and young people.
Roger Jaensch lied by reflex when we first asked about the original decision to remove the ‘genuine or just’ requirement for tenancy evictions under the Residential Tenancy Act.
He then doubled down on that lie in Parliament, suggesting a Cabinet decision is not a decision of government until legislation is tabled.
The Cabinet Handbook is clear, a Cabinet decision is government policy.
It was government policy prior to the pandemic to weaken tenancy protections in the middle of a housing crisis. Mr Jaensch is deliberately misleading Tasmanians about that unarguable fact.
It was still government policy throughout the emergency period until the 24 August Cabinet decision to reverse it in light of the pandemic.
Mr Jaensch was being untruthful, again, with Tasmanians on ABC radio this morning. He is trying to tell Tasmanians that black is white, and night is day.
It’s got a touch of Trump about it; lie often enough, some people will believe you.
By denying the evidence of a government decision to weaken tenancy protections and saying no decision was made when it clearly was, Mr Jaensch is trying to gaslight Tasmanians.
Media release – Rebecca White MP, Labor Leader,2 October 2020
Jaensch lies again
Embattled Minister Roger Jaensch has lied to Tasmanians again while desperately trying to spin his way out of hot water.
Coming out of hiding after lying to the Parliament eight days ago, Mr Jaensch doubled down on his lies to Tasmanians by telling ABC radio this morning that “the government had made no decision” about weakening tenancy protections.
This is despite evidence of a Cabinet document revealing the Liberals wanted to make it easier for Tasmanians to be evicted from their homes.
Labor Leader, Rebecca White, said Roger Jaensch must be sacked.
“Minister Jaensch wanted to evict Tasmanians, but it’s Roger Jaensch that must be evicted from his Ministry,” Ms White said.
“Mr Jaensch’s disgraceful attempts to spin his way out of hot water have only further proven that when put under pressure his default is to lie.
“Roger Jaensch’s ongoing refusal to own up to his lies proves he is unfit to be a Minister.
“Adam Brooks’ resignation from Parliament last year after lying to Tasmanians should be a reminder that this behaviour is simply not tolerable from anyone, least of all a Minister of the Crown.
“Why is Peter Gutwein protecting another lying Minister?”
Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Child Safety and Youth Affairs, 2 October 2020
Jaensch must go
Roger Jaensch has abandoned his responsibility for at-risk Tasmanian children and shown himself to be completely unfit to be a Minister.
Shadow Minister for Child Safety and Youth Affairs, Josh Willie, said Mr Jaensch’s appalling comments on ABC Radio this morning on the Brahminy program in the Northern Territory reveal the full extent of his ineptitude and he must resign or be sacked.
“Roger Jaensch told ABC Radio this morning that it was up to Allan Brahminy to answer questions about his identity and background,” Mr Willie said.
“No, Minister, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the allegations about his identity and background are investigated.
“The State Government is essentially acting as a parent to these children and, while the allegations remain untested, it has a responsibility to bring them home.
“If it was a teacher or another professional responsible for looking after young people, they would be stood down while an investigation took place.
“It is beyond time for this incompetent Minister to go. His position is untenable and if he won’t go voluntarily, the Premier must step up and sack him.
“Mr Jaensch told the ABC there would be a report back from his department on the issue by the end of the month and we look forward to this.
“But, in the meantime, these children need to be brought home and Mr Jaensch needs to finally take responsibility and step aside.”
