Madeleine Ogilvie's legal fee saga nears tipping point as parliament returns

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is under scrutiny following former minister Madeleine Ogilvie's resignation from cabinet two weeks ago, with the ongoing saga surrounding her legal fees and parliamentary statements reaching a critical point. Crossbenchers remain angered by the situation, particularly the unknown purpose of Ogilvie's legal expenses, suggesting the issue could escalate when state parliament reconvenes next Tuesday.

The Greens have put forward several potential actions, including a censure motion against the premier, a referral to the privileges committee for investigation into MPs' conduct, and a demand for the government to release relevant documents. A censure motion, while carrying no formal penalty, serves as a significant parliamentary rebuke; a similar motion against Sports Minister Nick Duigan last year for withdrawing a funding offer resulted in his censure.

Premier Rockliff has apologized for not further investigating whether Ogilvie misled parliament. He acknowledged becoming aware that the former Science Minister had stated in November she was not involved in any Supreme Court action, but later clarified this on May 28 after being pressed. Rockliff admitted the initial answer was inadequate and that he and Ogilvie discussed providing a more comprehensive response.

Significant questions persist regarding Ogilvie's decision not to proactively correct the parliamentary record and instead wait for questions from the Greens. Furthermore, the government's initial reluctance to address the issue, despite the premier's eventual willingness to provide information, remains a point of contention. The opposition and independent MP Peter George have ruled out a no-confidence motion, given the recent state election, but the political pressure on Rockliff is palpable.

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Clearly, the original answer and indeed clarification was not adequate.