Jeremy
Rockliff’s leadership has been undermined by the Liberal
Party State Director Peter Coulson.
On Wednesday,
Mr Rockliff ordered an investigation into neo-fascist group
leader and Liberal Party member, Jarrod Boys. But rather
than undertaking an investigation as directed by Mr Rockliff, Liberal State
Director Peter Coulson declared the matter closed less than
24 hours later.
UTAS Lecturer
Kaz Ross has presented evidence that Mr Boys had an active Proud Boys
Tasmanian President Telegram account as recently as Tuesday this
week. Mr Boys’ claims to have disbanded the group in 2020 is not
believable.
There is also
evidence of Mr Boys actively recruiting for the Proud Boys in 2021, after the
US insurrection attempt. His claim that he did not know what the Proud
Boys was is also not believable.
Not only have
Minister Jaensch and disgraced former member Adam Brooks been found to have
endorsed Mr Boys in the past, but it is now evident that Braddon MP Felix Ellis
has also supported the Tasmanian President of the Proud Boys’ attempt at
elected office.
As the
evidence of Mr Boys’ deep links with the Liberal Party grow by the day, Premier Rockliff
cannot be so weak as to allow his call for an investigation to be
overridden by his Party’s State Director.
Premier
Rockliff needs to stand up to his State Director and reassure
Tasmanians he won’t allow his Party’s links to neo-fascist groups to be swept
under the carpet.
These
questions must be answered:
- When did Mr Boys leave the Liberal Party?
- Was Liberal Party leadership aware that he was the President of the Proud Boys while he was a member? If so, what did they do about it?
- Was Mr Boys ever employed or paid by the Liberal Party or by the Liberal Government?
Dean Winter MP
Leader of Opposition Business
