Just a regular ‘private citizen’ with the premier on speed dial

Brad Stansfield is a bloke who wears so many hats that his milliner drives a Lexus, writes Political editor David Killick.

THERE are times in politics when telling the truth and concealing the truth are both equally unpalatable options.

That’s the time when even the most experienced operative reaches for the next-least-worst option: “no comment”.

That was the response from the government to a Mercury inquiry about now-former Minister Jane Howlett on February 17 and a potential conflict of interest.

It is the response from Ms Howlett and from JackJumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse – the basketball team that has raked in millions from the taxpayer during the time Ms Howlett was Minister.

It was the response from Font Public Relations company executive Brad Stansfield on Monday when asked about his role in her resignation.

“As a private citizen, what I do or don’t do in a personal capacity is nobody’s business but mine.”

Brad Stansfield (right) Chats with Roger Jaensch. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Mr Stansfield is a bloke who wears so many hats that his milliner drives a Lexus.

But when he went with Jane Howlett to meet the Premier last Thursday, he was bare-headed.

Mr Stansfield is a former chief of staff to Liberal Premier Will Hodgman and the architect of multiple Liberal election wins. His firm works for the Liberal Party. His firm works for the Jack Jumpers. His firm is on the register of lobbyists. He has the premier on speed dial.

He is just another private citizen.

The Chinese walls he uses to keep his competing interests apart must be made of a special kind of steel.

Mr Gutwein would not reveal who was with Ms Howlett when she resigned.

Our Premier has again demonstrated his unshakeable faith in human nature by taking at face value the denials of a conflict of interest, a potential conflict of interest or even the potential perception of potential conflict of interest in the Howlett matter.

As Labor has pointed out: it is the same approach he took to the mounting allegations against former candidate Adam Brooks.

Premier Peter Gutwein on the first day of parliament for 2022. Photo: Linda Higginson

Mr Gutwein came out swinging on Monday, giving the opposition a hefty serve. And hey, look over there, a covered stadium on the waterfront.

There are fundamental questions of integrity that are being stonewalled by the “no comments” and denials and diversion: did a government Minister fail to declare a personal relationship that could have influenced her in the performance of her official duties.

The failure to declare a personal interest led to the toppling of NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian – but the Tasmanian Integrity Commission is no ICAC.

That’s been done on purpose. Look at what happened to Ms Berejiklian and Barry O’Farrell and Nick Greiner.

It is human to feel sympathy for Ms Howlett who has stepped down and withdrawn from public life for a few weeks after suffering the loss of a family member.

Former Chief of Staff to Premier Will Hodgman Brad Stansfield at the declaration of the poll for Prosser with Jane Howlett the new MLC in 2018. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

It is easy to be distracted by the salacious, rather than what is really at stake here.

Do the check and balances which are supposed to safeguard the basic integrity of government fail us once again?

Spare a thought for the poor old Tasmanian voters trying to figure out the truth, who are unwilling participants in a poker game in which they’re not entitled to see any of the cards.

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