Claims government created ‘serious’ conflict of interest due to senior staffer rejected

The cabinet reshuffle has sparked a war of words over pokie reforms with claims a government minister had a ‘serious’ potential conflict of interest being rejected by the government.

Government rejects claims of a conflict of interest in the office of Finance Minister Roger Jaensch.

The Rockliff government has fended off claims it has created a “serious” potential conflict of interest by retaining the partner of powerful Tasmanian Hospitality Association boss, Steve Old, as a senior adviser to the minister implementing the state’s cashless pokies card.

It is understood the adviser, who the Mercury has chosen not to name, was working for Minister Roger Jaensch well before last week’s cabinet reshuffle, in which Mr Jaensch was given the Finance portfolio handed back by Nic Street.

On Friday, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff called for the adviser to be moved out of Mr Jaensch’s office, saying although the minister had recently divested his shares in a company that owns poker machines in Tasmania, he had not managed all potential conflict of interests.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff and Legislative Council member Cassy O'Connor discuss the state's pokies issues on parliament lawns. Picture: Duncan Abey

Dr Woodruff said an opinion piece in the Mercury by former deputy premier Michael Ferguson highlighted the powerful reach of the pro-pokies lobby, which included the THA.

“For a man who’s never put a foot across the party line, Mr Ferguson has taken the extraordinary step of speaking up strongly against his Premier’s backflip on mandatory pre-commitment cards,” Dr Woodruff said.

“To add to the alarm bells of pokies industry influence on politicians, we understand there is also a serious potential conflict of interest in Finance Minister Roger Jaensch’s office.

“Minister Jaensch is in charge of pokies policy, but one of his senior ministerial advisers is married to the head of the pokies lobby in Tasmania.

“It’s astounding the Premier gave Roger Jaensch the Finance portfolio when this potential conflict of interest in his office would have been apparent.”

THA CEO Steve Old and Dean Winter MP at Doctor Syntax Hotel. Picture: Chris Kidd

A government spokesperson declined to reveal Mr Old’s partner’s job title within Mr Jaensch’s office, but said the experienced staffer worked within the Community Services portfolio.

Mr Jaensch serves as the Minister for Children and Youth, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Minister for Community Services, and Minister for Finance in the Tasmanian government.

“Systems are in place to ensure any perceived conflict of interest is being managed appropriately” the spokesperson said.

But Dr Woodruff said while the adviser stayed employed by Mr Jaensch, the potential conflict of interest would remain.

“You couldn’t get a better example of the fox being in the hen house,” the Greens leader said.

“There’s no way you can have the finance minister’s senior ministerial adviser married to the head of the THA when he’s meant to be introducing nation-leading pre-commitment reforms.

“That is wrong by every measure, and no Tasmanian would think that’s reasonable.”

Education Minister Roger Jaensch and Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Lenah Valley Primary School. Picture: Chris Kidd

When contacted by the Mercury, Mr Old declined to comment.

Meanwhile, amid fears the Tasmanian government will walk-back its support for a card-based play plan in favour of an industry-backed facial recognition technology system which identifies those problem gamblers who have asked to be excluded from venues, independent MP Kristie Johnston has announced she will test support for the original harm-minimisation scheme on the floor of parliament later this month.

“I intend introducing an urgent motion to the House of Assembly in the first sitting week of

November calling on the Government to introduce the mandatory precommitment player

card as announced by Michael Ferguson in 2022,” Ms Johnston said on Friday.

“I’ve asked the Premier, Labor and the Greens to allow a conscience vote on the matter.

“I’m seeking a conscience vote because the issue of poker machines in our communities,

the vast harms to Tasmanians and the huge profits from their misery is of grave social,

ethical, economic, and moral concern to many community members.”