Top adviser Martine Haley resigns over email scandal

ONE of Premier Will Hodgman’s top advisers has resigned after being caught using fake social media accounts in a bid to have a critic sacked.

ONE of Premier Will Hodgman’s top advisers has resigned after being caught using fake social media accounts in a bid to have a critic sacked.

The Government’s Head of Communications Martine Haley resigned after meeting the Premier this afternoon.

It was revealed that Ms Haley — who was paid an annual salary of more than $200,000 — had maintained a fake social media profile under the name “Alice Woods-Jones”.

The now-deleted account was used to make comments on Opposition and media websites in a practice known as “sockpuppet” attacks.

Martine Haley, centre, at the Tally Room on Saturday. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

And an email linked to the account was also used to send screenshots of social media comments about abortion made by a Hobart woman to her employer in a bid to have her sacked.

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“Today I have accepted the resignation of Martine Haley, a senior adviser in my office,” Mr Hodgman said in a statement.

“Ms Haley offered her resignation following an inappropriate email she sent, which I have made clear was totally unacceptable.

“I understand Martine deeply regrets her actions and has personally apologised to the person involved.

“Ms Haley has made an important contribution to my government over the past four years and I wish her well.”

Martine Haley’s fake Facebook and social media profile

Earlier yesterday, the Premier, condemned Ms Haley’s behaviour, but said it was an isolated incident.

“A lot happens in election environments,” he said.

“A lot is said and done but to behave in that sort of way is unacceptable at any time,” he said.

“This is totally and utterly unacceptable. This is not the standard that I set. It does not meet my expectations or that of my government.”

There has been widespread suspicion that several social media accounts which were active during the campaign might have links to the Liberal Party or its staff.

Mr Hodgman denied that the practice was rampant in his office and said there was no need for a wider review.

“I am also advised by my Chief of Staff who has not only investigated this matter but broadly considered whether or not this sort of thing is occurring, that it has not, nor should. It is not acceptable behaviour.”

Susan Fahey from the Womens’ Legal Service, who assisted the woman to pursue a complaint about the conduct, said a wider investigation within the Premier’s office was needed.

“It is a really unfortunate event but the question is who else knew, who else was involved,” she said.

“The public expect a full audit because we are paying these people to run the Government, not to run smear campaigns.”

A then-Labor government media unit staff member used a sockpuppet account in 2010 to harass journalists and perceived political opponents — and accumulated about 100 followers including multiple senior Labor Party figures.

The account was deleted after inquiries by the Mercury.