Victoria
Former Tasmanian staffer alleges forced campaign work for Jane Howlett
A former Tasmanian Liberal staffer claims she was ordered to campaign for Jane Howlett during her paid government working hours.
A former Tasmanian Liberal government staffer has alleged she was ordered to campaign for a Liberal candidate during her official working hours. The staffer claims she was directed to assist the campaign of Jane Howlett, who was a Liberal candidate at the time of the alleged directive.
According to a wire report, the staffer was employed by a different, unnamed member of parliament when she was reportedly told to campaign. The identity of the staffer has not been disclosed, and the member of parliament she worked for has not been identified.
The specific timeline of the events, including the year and the particular election campaign involved, remains unconfirmed. It is also not yet known whether the staffer has submitted a formal complaint to parliamentary authorities or Tasmanian electoral officials.
In Tasmania, parliamentary staff are funded by taxpayers to assist members with their legislative and electorate duties. Rules generally prevent staff from engaging in partisan campaign work during their contracted working hours, making allegations of this nature politically sensitive.
At this stage, Ms Howlett has not publicly commented on the allegations, and the Tasmanian Liberal Party has not issued a statement regarding the claims. It remains unclear how long the staffer allegedly spent campaigning or what specific tasks she was instructed to perform.
The lack of available detail leaves several questions unanswered, including whether other parliamentary staff members were given similar directions during the campaign period.
It remains to be seen whether the Tasmanian government or parliamentary integrity bodies will launch an investigation into the allegations.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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