Embattled Green facing the sack
Upper House launches TCC probe
The Greens
MEDIA RELEASE
Peg Putt MHA
Greens Opposition Leader
Friday, 14 JULY 2006
AUDITOR-GENERAL’S INQUIRY WELCOME
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the Auditor-General’s announcement that he will also undertake an inquiry into the controversial Tasmanian Compliance Corporation agreement, and called again for Bryan Green to be sacked, or at least stood down whilst the various inquiries on the matter take place.
Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA said that the exclusivity clause 9, which the Greens revealed had been removed from the agreement by Mr Green’s department and then reinserted on instruction from the Minister or his office, seemed to be a key focus for the Auditor-General’s investigation.
Ms Putt hopes that the Auditor-General will be able to explore the contention that the TCC agreement was never meant to see the light of day unless there was a change of government.
The Greens had revealed in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon that despite assertions by the government that the Auditor-General inquiry was underway, and hence the Joint House Select Committee Inquiry proposed by the Greens was unnecessary, in fact no such inquiry was underway with Mr Blake still assessing whether he would instigate one.
“The Auditor-General’s inquiry is welcome, with its apparent focus on the way this controversial agreement was constructed to confer exclusivity to the TCC,” Ms Putt said.
“The Greens revealed this week that the clause granting exclusivity or recompense to the tune of $2.5 million to the TCC had been removed from the agreement by the department on the grounds that it was “unacceptable”, but was then reinstated upon the insistence of the Minister or his office and we hope that this can be fully examined.”
“With three differing inquiries now underway and the Premier having now lost faith in him, the Deputy Premier should have had the sack, and as a minimum must at least stand down until these investigations are complete.”
