Tasmania premier Rockliff backs away from explaining backbencher's legal-cost payout
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has backed away from explaining why the state government covered legal costs for crossbench MP Shelton. Opposition and transparency campaigners are escalating their information requests and keeping legal review options open.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he would not explain why the state government had covered legal costs for crossbench MP Shelton. Rockliff said the matter was 'legal in nature' and that further public comment would not be appropriate.
The opposition Tasmanian Labor Party and the Greens have submitted a motion to parliament demanding that documents related to the payment be released to the public. Civil society transparency advocates said they have also lodged formal freedom of information requests.
The row comes on top of a string of recent transparency disputes facing the Rockliff government. With the precarious coalition balance that emerged from the state's March election, the government is moving carefully in response to each new wave of public pressure. The issue will return to the floor when parliament resumes its next sitting.
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