Premier Jeremy Rocklliff’s call for his Liberal Party to investigate startling claims of a campaign worker and his links to the neo-fascist group the Proud Boys could start with a basic search of the Tasmanian Parliamentary record.
Mr Rockliff needs only to search Hansard to discover his senior Cabinet Minister Roger Jaensch offered a glowing endorsement of Burnie City Council candidate Jarrod Boys in 2018 – the same period in which Mr Boys allegedly recorded a video stating allegiance to the Proud Boys.
Mr Jaensch told the Parliament Mr Boys was part of “the backbone” of his election campaign and said he “absorbed everything like a sponge, threw his heart into it.”
Mr Boys’ Linkedin profile shows he worked on Minister Jaensch’s “campaign team” for almost three years until 2020. How many Proud Boys is the Liberal Party harbouring?
If the Premier had any authority he wouldn’t need an “investigation” – he would simply demand honesty from his Ministers.
Now the evidence is clear, Mr Rockliff has to show leadership and tell Tasmanians how many Liberal Party campaigns Mr Boys has worked on and if he has ever received payment or worked in a political office.
Mr Rockliff needs to act today on a neo-fascist group whose beliefs and actions around the world have no place in Tasmanian politics at any level.
Dean Winter MP
Leader of Opposition Business
