Tasmanian Liberal MP Adam Brooks resigns to focus on health and ‘personal matters’
The man who saved fireworks night will depart state politics without a cracker after his sudden resignation. READ THE EDITORIAL: The rise and fall of Mr Brooks.
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UPDATED: THE man who saved fireworks night will depart state politics without a cracker, Premier Will Hodgman said.
Braddon MP Adam Brooks dropped his bombshell announcement on radio on Monday morning.
“Obviously everyone is sad to see Brooksy go, but I will still be active in the community,” Mr Brooks said.
Damned by an Integrity Commission report and dogged by ill health, Mr Brooks’s resignation comes after Premier Will Hodgman’s acknowledgement the popular Braddon MP would never again serve as a minister.
His resignation takes effect from Tuesday afternoon and he is likely to be replaced in a countback by former Liberal MLA Joan Rylah — who was voted out at last year’s election.
The Premier said Mr Brooks was not entitled to any form of payout.
Elected to the Tasmanian Parliament for the seat of Braddon in 2010, the wealthy businessman was given the mining portfolio after the resignation of Resources Minister Paul Harriss in February 2016.
He resigned the ministry in June that year after concerns were raised about potential conflicts of interest and the use of private email accounts.
Mr Brooks dropped his bombshell resignation on radio announcer Brian Carlton — counting among his top achievements in his nine-year political career the saving of cracker night.
“Today, unfortunately, I’ve made the difficult decision to advise the Governor and the Premier that I will be resigning from Parliament,” he said.
“I do this with extreme sadness. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve the people of Braddon for the last nine years.”
Mr Brooks said his decision was based on medical advice and on “the need for me to focus on other things”.
“As we know I’ve had a leave of absence for a little bit of time now and as most of your listeners would know that was due to medical advice … to focus on my health as well as some other personal matters.”
The Integrity Commission last year found Mr Brooks failed to tell the truth to the Premier and deleted “a significant number of emails” that proved he was involved in a company with mining interests while he was mining minister.
His claims that he had “relocated” and “quarantined” the emails were rejected in the Commission’s report.
The Integrity Commission found that he was motivated in part by a desire to limit political damage to himself.
Mr Hodgman revealed taxpayers forked out $57,888 in legal fees charged during the investigation — a sum Mr Brooks promised to repay.
TAXPAYERS PICK UP BROOKS’S LEGAL BILL
BROOKS SAYS HE WILL PAY LEGAL FEES
Mr Hodgman paid tribute to Mr Brooks as an exceptional local member, but acknowledged his political career had been tainted by errors of judgment.
“Having seen him in action over many years he’s the sort of person who needs to be able to be able to commit 100 per cent to the job. He’s made a decision that he’s currently not able to do that and as a result he’s resigning from our Parliament,” he said.
“He’s made some decisions and has done things that you know haven’t always sat well with me and his government colleagues, most notably I refer of course to the matters investigated by the Integrity Commission.
“But Adam has also paid a significant price for those political errors, those errors of judgment that he’s acknowledged, apologised for.
“It cost him a ministry and he was, of course, subject to a lengthy inquiry process all of which has its personal toll.”
Labor leader Rebecca White wished Mr Brooks well, but said his resignation was overdue.
“The Integrity Commission report ... was very damning of him and his behaviour in the Parliament.
“He did mislead the Parliament and that was two years ago. It’s taken a long time for him to do the honourable thing really and resign.”
Mr Brooks did not rule out a comeback but said his health and his family were his top priorities and he could not put a time frame on when he might be back.
He said he was proud of his achievements during his time in parliament including “saving firecracker night” and introducing a local benefits test for government tenders.
EARLIER: A former Liberal MP says she is shocked to hear her former colleague Adam Brooks has resigned but she’s ready to re-enter politics — albeit at very short notice.
“I am keen to get involved again but a bit surprised still that I may be rejoining Tasmania’s Parliament,” Joan Rylah said from her Somerset home today.
“I did not expect this is how my day would go when I got up this morning. I have been out of politics for almost 12 months but keen to get stuck back in
“Adam called this morning and told me that he had resigned. I will nominate to fill the seat and then let the process do the rest.”
Mrs Rylah, a financial adviser, lost her seat at last year’s state election in a tussle with now Housing Minister Roger Jaensch as four re-contesting MHAs tried to squeeze into the three seats the party retained in Braddon.
A proud supporter of the forest industry, she received just under 3500 first-preference votes.
The Electoral Commission will conduct a recount of Mrs Rylah’s votes and those of Felix Ellis to see who will fill the seat left vacant by Mr Brooks’ surprise resignation.
EARLIER: Former Mining Minister Adam Brooks has resigned from State Parliament, a Government spokesman confirmed.
Elected to the Tasmania parliament for the seat of Braddon in 2010, the wealthy businessman was given the newly created portfolio after the resignation of Paul Harriss in February 2016. He relinquished the portfolio in June that year after concerns were raised about potential conflicts of interest and the use of private email accounts.
The Integrity Commission last year found Mr Brooks lied to Premier Will Hodgman and deliberately deleted emails that proved he was involved in a company with mining interests while he was mining minister.
BROOKS TRIED TO COVER UP EMAILS, REPORT FINDS
Mr Hodgman revealed taxpayers forked out $57,888 in legal fees charged during the Integrity Commission investigation — a sum Mr Brooks promised to repay.
Mr Brooks took several months medical leave around the time of the report’s release.
He told Tasmania Talks radio announcer Brian Carlton he resigned this morning.
“Today, unfortunately, I’ve made the difficult decision to advise the Governor and the Premier that I will be resigning from parliament,” he said.
“I do this with extreme sadness. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve the people of Braddon for the last nine years.
Mr Brooks said his decision was based on medical advice and on “the need for me to focus on other things”.
“As we know I’ve had a leave of absence for a little bit of time now and as most of your listeners would know that was due to medical advice ... to focus on my health as well as some other personal matters.
“I was really committed and excited about getting myself right and coming back in March to continue standing up for the community of Braddon, to stand up for the people who put me there and keep fighting on their behalf.
“I met with the governor this morning and told the Premier that I will be resigning effective from tomorrow.”
“The community of Braddon needs someone there who can give them 100 per cent and I’m unable to do that at the moment.”
“Obviously everyone is sad to see Brooksy go, but I will still be active in he community.”
Mr Brooks did not rule out a comeback but said his health and his family were his top priorities and he could not put a timeframe on when he might be back.
He said he was proud of his achievements during his time in parliament including “saving .firecracker night” and introducing a local benefits test for government tenders.
Mr Brooks’ departure is likely to result in the return of former Liberal member for Braddon Joan Rylah to State Parliament.
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