Tasmanian Premier rejects probe into politician's leaked email

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to investigate the leak of an email detailing independent MLC Ruth Forrest's health-related needs. Forrest had requested that attendees at budget estimates hearings refrain from wearing strong perfumes and aftershaves due to adverse reactions she and others have experienced.

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I fear it was intended to minimise and trivialise a genuine health matter as well as to humiliate me.

Forrest expressed deep disappointment after the email was leaked to the media, stating she feared it was intended to "minimize and trivialize a genuine health matter as well as to humiliate me." She demanded an apology and the identification of the person responsible.

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I cannot adequately describe how deeply disappointed I am.

Premier Rockliff stated that Ms. Forrest had not raised the issue directly with him and he was unaware of how the email reached the media. He declared, "I do not intend to take the matter further." He suggested Ms. Forrest might consider lodging a complaint with the Independent Complaints Commissioner, a body that is currently being established.

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I do not intend to take the matter further.

However, independent MLC Meg Webb questioned the Premier's suggestion, pointing out that the complaints commissioner does not yet exist. Webb also challenged Rockliff's assertion that Ms. Forrest had wanted her request "distributed," clarifying that Forrest intended the request to be a policy matter for those attending the hearings, not for widespread dissemination.

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There is a mechanism for the Independent Complaints Commissioner, of which we are working through that establishment now, of which that would be the place that Ms. Forrest may well want to take that concern.