• Did the Solicitor General clear Rene Hidding or did Will Hodgman?
• How can the Premier rule on the issue without speaking to Ruth Forrest
• Misrepresenting the Solicitor General and the Secretary of DPAC is very serious
Premier Will Hodgman has to come clean on whether the Solicitor General cleared Rene Hidding or not.
Shadow Attorney-General Lara Giddings said a massive shift in language has cast a shadow over the Premier’s handling of the bullying scandal.
“On Monday the Premier said the advice from the Solicitor General and the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet cleared Rene Hidding,” Ms Giddings said.
The transcript from the Premier’s press conference is clear.
Journalist: Can you just explain how it’s not a breach of the Code of Conduct when Ruth Forrest used words like bullying and intimidatory behaviour.
Premier: Yeah, well, the advice I’ve got is that it’s not. (Will Hodgman’s press conference – Wrest Point Casino, 26/9/2016)
“Does the Premier stand by his answer or has he misrepresented the Solicitor General and his government’s most senior public servant?,” Ms Giddings said.
“By Monday night, the Government’s story had changed completely. The Premier’s now saying he cleared Rene Hidding of any wrongdoing, despite not even speaking to Ruth Forrest.
“If the Premier has put words into the mouth of the Solicitor General it is an extremely serious matter.
“Did the Solicitor General clear Rene Hidding of breaching the Ministerial Code of Conduct or not?
“It’s a very simple question and one the Premier must immediately answer.
“If the Premier has advice which clears Rene Hidding, he should release it today for Tasmanians to see.
“If not, Rene Hidding’s breach of the Ministeral Code of Conduct will continue to dog the Hodgman Government until he comes clean.”
Lara Giddings MP Shadow Attorney-General
