Labor cries hypocrisy over Rebecca White US trip criticism after Guy Barnett jets out to London

The government has been accused of double standards on the issue of personal trips overseas, after Deputy Premier Guy Barnett attended a high-powered conservative conference in London.

Guy Barnett attends the ARC conference in London

The Tasmanian government has been accused of political double standards on the issue of personal trips overseas, after Deputy Premier Guy Barnett attended a high-powered conservative conference in London just weeks his cabinet colleagues pilloried former Labor leader Rebecca White for visiting the United States.

While Mr Barnett’s office confirmed the Attorney-General had taken leave to attend the sold-out Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference this week, and had paid for all expenses from his own pocket, Labor MHA Ella Haddad said the Liberal Party had not hesitated to question Ms White’s decision to help campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris last November.

Attorney-General Guy Barnett speaks to the media in Hobart on Friday, December 6, 2024.

While Ms White was away, government Minister Jane Howlett issued a series of press releases criticising the then-state member for Lyons for travelling overseas.

“Does Ms White not think her constituents deserve her attention instead of US voters?” Ms Howlett said on November 5, and two days later: “Make no mistake, Ms White’s wages are paid for by the taxpayers of Tasmania.”

As Mr Barnett prepares to return to work on Monday after rubbing shoulders at the right-wing get-together with the likes of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Nigel Farage, Jordan Peterson, and former prime minister Tony Abbott, Ms Haddad said the hypocrisy displayed by the Liberals was “breathtaking”.

“Minister Jane Howlett was quick to attack Rebecca White for taking leave to travel overseas last year – posing a range of questions about who was paying her wage and why she wasn’t in Tasmania,” Ms Haddad said.

“As Treasurer, Guy Barnett is leading Tasmania into budget crisis, as the state approaches $10 billion in debt.

“Does Ms Howlett think the Treasurer should be here focused on getting Tasmania’s finances back on track, or overseas on a political excursion?”

A spokesperson for Mr Barnett confirmed the Attorney-General had attended the 2025 ARC conference, that no taxpayer funding had been used on the trip, and that the Minister would be back at work on 24 February.

The government made arrangements for Minister Eric Abetz to act as Attorney-General during Mr Barnett’s absence, from 15 to 23 February

The 2025 ARC Conference called on prospective international attendees “to be part of the conversation as we work to re-lay the foundations of our civilisation.”

“ARC communities are emerging worldwide and, online, the conversation about renewing our culture gathers pace each day.”

Originally published as Labor cries hypocrisy over Rebecca White US trip criticism after Guy Barnett jets out to London