Retirement payout for former Tasmanian MP Rene Hidding kept under wraps

Documentation relating to a payout to retired Tasmanian MP Rene Hidding has been released to the Mercury, but features a sea of black ink redacting a number of figures.

Rene Hidding during his time in parliament. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

RETIRED Liberal MP Rene Hidding received a payout of at least $1.2 million when he left politics this year, but the Government does not want you to know that.

The Sunday Tasmanian submitted a Right to Information request after being denied access to the information through other efforts as we attempted to inform taxpayers of the final figure.

Documentation relating to Mr Hidding’s payout was released to the Sunday Tasmanian last week, but featured black ink redacting a number of figures.

Mr Hidding, who retired in February, was a member of parliament for 23 years, including almost four as a minister and 3½ years as Opposition leader.

He was one of two remaining politicians who qualified for generous benefits available to parliamentarians elected before 1999 — and who were paid out during the 2018-19 financial year.

The Sunday Tasmanian believes the other was long-time Nelson MLC Jim Wilkinson, who retired in April.

Based on information that was not redacted and publicly available information on politicians’ salaries, the Sunday Tasmanian believes Mr Hidding’s payout was in excess of $1.2 million.

Tasmanian academic and RTI expert Rick Snell said the redaction of figures in the RTI was “just ridiculous”.

“I think it’s just a classic example of how difficult the public service makes the whole RTI process,’’ he said.

“This should have been a lay down misere in terms of open government.”

Prof Snell said the public had a right to know.

He said the RTI process was designed to encourage the release of information, but said exemptions were becoming all too common.

Mr Hidding qualified for the payout under the Parliamentary Retiring Benefits Fund.

The Superannuation Commission’s annual report said the final two members of the PRBF had exited parliament and triggered their entitlements.

The report said $2.38 million was paid out to those two members as lump sums.

Parliamentarians qualified for the PRBF if they were first elected after November 1985 but before July 1999.