Breaking: Premier confirms ex-ministers' legal fees are from fighting Integrity Commission

Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirms legal fees have been used by two former ministers to fight Integrity Commission Wed 17 Jun 2026 at 9:50am In short: Premier Jeremy Rockliff has confirmed in parliament that taxpayer-funded legal fees have been used by two former ministers to fight the Integrity Commission. Jane Howlett's bill has now reached $405,000, while Madeleine Ogilvie's remains at $120,000. What's next? The government says the former ministers will provide the full details about the cases when they are legally able to. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has confirmed in parliament that the half a million dollars in taxpayer-funded legal fees racked up by former ministers Madeleine Ogilvie and Jane Howlett are due to them fighting the Integrity Commission. Ms Ogilvie and Ms Howlett recently resigned to the backbench over accusations they misled parliament. The pair have both had their legal bills footed by the taxpayer in recent years for unknown cases. Ms Howlett's bill has now reached $405,000, while Ms Ogilvie's remains at $120,000. Neither have been able to explain what they are for, but many people have speculated that they relate to Integrity Commission investigations. In parliament today, after years of pursuit by opposition parties, Mr Rockliff confirmed that was true. Asked by Labor integrity spokesperson Ella Haddad if the legal fees accrued by the two former ministers and the Integrity Commission's own $317,000 bill were about "secret legal disputes" between the former ministers and the commission, the premier replied "yes". Ms Haddad: During budget estimates the Integrity Commission confirmed that someone initiating court action in the Supreme Court can prevent Integrity Commission reports from being released. The question taken on notice from estimates has revealed that the Integrity Commission has spent $317,545.19 on its on legal costs for investigations since the 2022-23 financial year. Former Minister Howlett has now racked up $405,000 in secret taxpayer-funded legal fees and former Minister Ogilvie has spent over $120,000, that we know of. Premier, are Tasmanians paying almost a million dollars to cover both sides of secret legal disputes between your former ministers and the Integrity Commission? Mr Rockliff: There is a process underway and at face value, yes, the answer to your question is yes. The premier also said he did not expect Ms Howlett's bill would increase any further, but the government would actively disclose if it did. The government says the former ministers will provide the full details about the cases when they are legally able to. Latest cabinet reshuffle announced Before parliament sat on Wednesday morning, Mr Rockliff announced a reshuffle of his cabinet, following the resignation of Jane Howlett from the frontbench on Tuesday. Roger Jaensch returns to the frontbench and will take on the portfolios for Tourism, Hospitality and Events; Minister for Racing; Minister for Community and Multicultural Affairs; and Minister for the Arts. Current Minister for Education, Children and Youth, and Disability Services, Jo Palmer, has also been appointed Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence. Ms Palmer and Mr Jaensch were sworn in on Wednesday morning. Mr Jaensch has returned to cabinet after less than a year on the backbench. A member of parliament for over a decade, he previously held several ministerial portfolios including Children and Youth, Finance, and Aboriginal Affairs. Mr Jaensch said he was "grateful" to serve again in cabinet. Outgoing ministers 'paid a very high price' In less than three weeks, the Tasmanian government has seen two ministers relinquish their portfolios and move to the backbench. Madeleine Ogilvie resigned as a minister in late May, amid accusations she misled parliament, after revealing her involvement in a Supreme Court matter, months after saying she was not connected to any legal action. Ms Howlett resigned less than an hour before parliament was due to sit on Tuesday, following mounting pressure to move to the backbench over $405,000 in taxpayer money being used to pay her legal fees. Ms Howlett has also faced questions over conflicting evidence about what her office knew about a breach of caretaker conventions during the last election. Asked if he would admit that the former ministers had misled parliament or broken the ministerial code of conduct, Mr Rockliff said they had already "paid a very high price". "They're on the backbench. They don't have ministries anymore. That accountability has been well demonstrated," he said. Mr Rockliff also used the press conference to decry what he labelled "personal attacks" against the former ministers in the preceding weeks, taking particular issue with Labor MP Dean Winter's "appalling" attacks against Ms Howlett. "I was compared to Stalin yesterday, I understand — I mean for heaven's sake, enough's enough,"Mr Rockliff said. "Is this the kind of parliament that our crossbench actually want when there is a focus so deeply personal?" Loading