• Trolling adviser Martine Haley received taxpayer-funded severance despite resigning in disgrace
• Close to $1 million paid out despite Liberals winning another term
• Premier running protection racket over trolling saga despite evidence
Tasmanian taxpayers forked out $870,000 for Liberal staffers to leave the Government’s ranks – including the disgraced former adviser to Premier Hodgman, Martine Haley.
Martine Haley was embroiled in a trolling saga after it was emerged she was running trolling social media accounts to attack members of the public, businesses and employers, while working in Premier Hodgman’s office.
“The Premier announced in a statement that Martine Haley had resigned, yet this morning admitted that Martine Haley received a severance payout,” Shadow Treasurer Scott Bacon said.
“It is clear that Martine Haley’s actions warranted being fired, yet she has been rewarded with a large sum of money from the pool of $870,000 paid out to departing Liberal staffers.
“There was no thorough investigation of the actions of Premier Hodgman’s staff.
“The Premier was also unable to rule out other staff being involved in the trolling activities, including one member of staff who interacted with fake accounts but was retained in Minister Petrusma’s office, and he was unable to give a convincing answer to deny that computers in his office were replaced immediately after the election to destroy evidence.
“It is clear that the Premier Hodgman is running a protection racket for current and disgraced former staffers, who received significant payouts on their way out the door.”
Scott Bacon MP Shadow Treasurer
