Jane Howlett must go

Jane Howlett must go.

Yesterday the Minister’s position in Cabinet was untenable. Today she simply has to stand down.

Yesterday she was already facing serious questions. Today, the situation has been made even worse by a damning Parliamentary Committee hearing where evidence provided by CorComms Executive Chairman Nick Turner made it clear Minister Howlett has misled Parliament.

Since last November, Minister Howlett has repeatedly told Parliament that her office wasn’t aware of the communications.

Mr Turner told today’s Committee that he advised Minister Howlett’s current Chief of Staff of the communication before it went out.

Mr Turner’s evidence also directly contradicts a statuary declaration made by Minister Howlett’s Chief of Staff who said that “at no time was I aware of Tasracing's intended plan to issue any public communication about the Tasinsure policy on any platform.”

Making a false statutory declaration is a criminal offence in Tasmania, punishable by imprisonment.

Minister Howlett already had serious questions hanging over her head.

Today that’s been made even worse.

It is clear she must go.