Tasmanian Primary Industries Minister quits over relationship

Tasmania’s Primary Industries Minister Sarah Courtney has stood down after revealing she is in a relationship with the head of her department.

Tasmanian Primary Industries Minister Sarah Courtney is in a relationship with the head of her department. Picture: Luke Bowden.

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman faces a potentially difficult ethical dilemma after a minister confided she was in a personal relationship with her departmental chief, prompting calls for her sacking.

Primary Industries Minister, Sarah Courtney, today stood aside, and her lover and departmental chief, John Whittington, took leave, pending reviews into whether they had breached any codes of conduct.

The Labor opposition demanded Ms Courtney, a 39-year-old rising star with three degrees, be sacked for failing to promptly declare the relationship as appears required under the ministerial code.

“It is clear that appropriate action was not taken at the time it became a conflict of interest,” said Labor justice spokeswoman Ella Haddad. “This … is grounds enough for dismissal, let alone the fact that all of the minister’s decisions have now been called into question.

“The question has to be asked whether this constitutes the highest ethical standards (demanded in the code)”.

Dr Whittington, who several political sources said was married with children, could not be contacted, while Ms Courtney, who became Tasmania’s first female primary industries minister after the March state election, declined to say how long their relationship had been going.

If both are cleared of any potential breaches of their respective codes of conduct – Ms Courtney the ministerial code and Dr Whittington the State Service Code – a decision will need to be made about whether either, or both, return to their jobs.

The question of whether Ms Courtney has breached the ministerial code may rest on when the relationship began, as the code states conflicts must be declared to the premier “as soon as possible”.

Both the ministerial code and the state service code place an onus on individuals to avoid conflicts.

“I advised the Premier of the conflict on Sunday and have subsequently written to confirm my wish to stand down pending any review outcomes,” said Ms Courtney, a divorced former financial analyst and viticulturist.

“I will not be receiving my ministerial salary and allowances during this period. I do not intend on saying anything more publicly on this matter.”

Mr Hodgman said state service chief Jenny Gale would review “all relevant decisions made by Ms Courtney” and “consider whether a state service code of conduct investigation is required in relation to Dr Whittington”.

Former federal and state director of public prosecutions, Damien Bugg QC, would determine whether there had been a potential breach of the ministerial code of conduct. “In the interim I will be taking on Ms Courtney’s portfolio responsibilities,” Mr Hodgman said.

David Moltow, lecturer in ethics and professional practice at the University of Tasmania, said the relationship was an apparent conflict that may be difficult to manage.

“Love happens and we should respect that …but for practical reasons alone it would be awkward (to effectively manage),” Dr Moltow said.

Richard Eccleston, UTAS professor of political science, said the relationship was not a clear conflict under the ministerial code. “But the code also rightly states that … ministers must commit to maintaining the highest ethical standards,” Professor Eccleston said.