Jacquie Petrusma, Tasmanian Minister, accused of lying over ABC's Right to Information request
Updated
The Tasmanian Opposition says the Human Services Minister has "lied to the public" after she was forced to correct the record about her knowledge of a Right to Information (RTI) request.
Jacquie Petrusma initially denied any knowledge of the overdue request from ABC News about the residential care provider Safe Pathways.
The request, which was lodged in January and due in early February, sought more details about the Government's contract with the provider, which was featured in a Four Corners program and accused of neglecting children.
The Minister was asked repeatedly about her knowledge of the matter and said she was unaware of the request.
However, her staff had discussed the release of the information and how Ms Petrusma should respond if asked about it.
In the email chain circulated between a number of people, including the Minister and advisers, one staffer wrote:
"I suspect the push so early in the morning for [the] RTI means [the ABC] really wants to get into Jacquie Petrusma today and needed something new to throw at her.
"The RTI is being reviewed by the secretary, it is our understanding it will go to him next week."
In response, another of Ms Petrusma's staffers advises the Minister:
"Minister, if [the ABC] asks you about it, you firmly state the RTI is being managed by the DHHS independent of your office and they need to take it up with the DHHS."
Labor spokesman Josh Willie has accused Ms Petrusma of lying.
"Yesterday the Human Services lied to the public," he said.
"Today she needs to come out and explain why she thought it was ok to lie about a child protection matter.
"The Opposition has no confidence in this Minister, this Minister has a very important job protecting our most vulnerable people in Tasmania and if she's prepared to lie to save her own skin then we have no confidence in her."
Government ministers defend Petrusma
This morning government ministers came out in defence of Ms Petrusma.
Police Minister Rene Hidding dismissed the Opposition criticism.
"Jacquie Petrusma's explained what's taken place there, I think that's a fairly innocuous situation there, she's explained that well," he said.
"She's a very truthful and honourable lady and if that's what she said, then that's what happened."
Yesterday, Right to Information expert Rick Snell said the Minister and adviser involvement was far from ideal.
Mr Hidding maintained the Government was not involved in the Right to Information process.
"I think the RTI process is absolutely arm's length from the Government," he said.
"This government is the most open government Tasmania's ever seen.
"We need to as ministers always be aware of the status of material going out from the Department because it's you people, it's the media, who asks us about the status of RTIs," he said.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Human Services Minister categorically rejected the suggestion she had lied.
"No, the Minister has clearly explained what happened," the spokeswoman said.
The Minister yesterday said she was "mortified" that she "inadvertently gave the wrong information".
Eleven Tasmanian children were moved from Safe Pathways' care in December 2016 following allegations by staff who said the company was failing in its responsibility to children.
Topics: state-parliament, welfare, government-and-politics, hobart-7000, launceston-7250
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