Human Services Minister Nat Cook reveals she has ‘had to resort to using a non-government email’

Liberal MPs repeatedly shouted “Hillary” in parliament as a Labor minister defended a staffer at the centre of a political email row.

Human Services Minister Nat Cook has been branded “Hillary” after she revealed she has used a non-government email address for “things that aren’t sensitive”.

Ms Cook made the revelation while defending a staff member who sent a politically-charged email to thousands of public servants on her behalf. She said the staff member in question corresponded on a Gmail account.

“This is what happens. I have had to resort to using a non-government email for things that aren’t sensitive,” she said in parliament.

Opposition members repeatedly interjected “Hillary!” – in reference to former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s famous private email controversy – before Ms Cook said the non-government email was not used in the course of ministerial work.

Human Services Minister Nat Cook. Picture: Emma Brasier

“In order to communicate with someone sometimes, I think we all use other email accounts. Did I say I was doing ministerial work? No, I did not,” she said.

She later told The Advertiser she had not operated a Gmail address in several years, and uses separate government and parliamentary emails. She said her comments had referred to the latter.

A spokesman for Premier Peter Malinauskas said he was confident proper email practices were being upheld by other ministers.

“All ministers are aware of their requirements when it comes to using government emails for government business,” he said.

In June, Ms Cook was accused of breaching the Ministerial Code of Conduct after an email newsletter, sent to more than 2600 Department for Human Services staff, referred to “the landslide of support that carried the Malinauskas Labor team to a thumping victory” and “the resounding defeat of the Morrison Liberal Government”.

Hours later, a “revised” email was sent out, claiming the message from Ms Cook was sent “in error” and was instead intended as an update for those living in her electorate.

Under questioning in parliament at the time, Ms Cook maintained the error was on the part of a “very junior staff person”.

However, Freedom of Information documents recently released to the opposition revealed the identity of the worker, who was a “relief officer” in Ms Cook’s electoral office.

The opposition said the worker was a “longstanding party loyalist” who had worked in communications for Labor for a number of years, including as a speechwriter to former premier Jay Weatherill.

Labor also appointed the worker as a board member for a multibillion-dollar superannuation fund, they said.

Opposition social and community housing spokeswoman Michelle Lensink said Ms Cook has “undoubtedly breached the code of conduct” and has been “ducking and weaving to dodge any responsibility for her rookie error”.

“It astounds me Nat Cook attempted to blame her unacceptable email on ‘a very junior staff member’ when clearly this person is a Labor loyalist with years of experience in communications and politics,” she said.

Defending the staff member in parliament, Ms Cook said the error was quickly realised and an apology was issued.

“The staff member was completely unwell about it and has been supported through this whole period of time,” she said.