Beleaguered Minister for Racing, Madeleine Ogilvie’s re-emergence from almost two weeks in hiding produced an even more unsatisfactory performance than her GBE Hearing train wreck on 30 November.
The Minister continued lying yesterday at a farcical media conference.
She said four times she stands by her answer (that Mr Eriksson left for family reasons), which is a lie. Not only did Minister Ogilvie lie her July statement, then in Parliament, she just keeps lying.
Mr Eriksson left because he was sacked after a poor staff culture survey, which the Chair of TasRacing revealed at the Racing GBE hearing.
The accusations that Labor is playing politics are offensive and ridiculous. There is no Opposition in history that would not pursue such a blatant lie and subsequent misleading of Parliament.
It is our job to hold Ministers to account under the Westminster system of government.
It’s also the role of Parliamentarians in both Houses and the media.
Minister Ogilvie’s treatment of journalists yesterday was dismissive and disrespectful.
This Minister cannot even defend herself. She cannot continue in the role and if she won’t resign the Premier should terminate her.
It is simply not plausible she did not know Mr Eriksson had his employment terminated when she made a public statement on July 6 that he had left for family reasons and when she repeated that statement – thereby misleading Parliament – at the GBE hearing.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Racing
