Premier Rockliff
inched closer to sacking Madeline Ogilvie today after an appalling performance
in question time.
Minister Ogilvie
twice refused to answer serious allegations regarding her exposing
whistleblowers to retribution by the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI).
And, tellingly,
neither the Premier Jeremy Rockliff nor any of his other Ministers defended Ms
Ogilvie’s performance.
In September
last year, serious allegations of race fixing and complaints about the Director
of Racing-including allegations of intimidating behaviour-were raised directly
with Ms Ogilvie, in writing.
In her response,
four months later, she revealed she had passed the complaint, including the
identity of the people making the complaints, to the Director of Racing himself
for assessment.
Serious
allegations have been made about industry whistleblowers facing retribution
after making complaints to the Office of Racing Integrity.
Yet the head of
the Office of Racing Integrity remains in the position, presumably working on
his own terms of reference.
The Rockliff
Government has a shocking record when it comes to the treatment of
whistleblowers.
The Minister
failed to explain her own actions today whereby she’s disclosed the identity of
brave people who’ve spoken out about serious integrity issues in Tasmanian
harness racing, exposing them to retribution.
Instead she used
the question as an opportunity to make an announcement.
She also refused
to answer why the Director of Racing Justin Helmich, a former Liberal staffer,
won’t be stood down while the inquiry into the Office of Racing Integrity
occurs.
She should resign in shame or Mr Rockliff should grow a spine, show some leadership and sack her.
Dean Winter
MP
Leader of Opposition
Business in the House of Assembly
Shadow Minister for Racing
