Minister knew TasRacing chief was sacked months before public

Racing Minister Madeleine Ogilvie has revealed she knew TasRacing’s chief had been sacked, days before telling the public he was leaving for family reasons. STORY >>

RACING Minister Madeleine Ogilvie knew TasRacing CEO Paul Eriksson had been sacked five days before telling the public he was leaving to spend more time with his family.

In state parliament on Tuesday, Ms Ogilvie said she had been informed of Mr Eriksson’s sacking by the TasRacing board on July 1 last year.

On July 6, she issued a media release which said in part: “Mr Eriksson will be returning to Sydney to spend more time with his family.”

Mr Eriksson was told of his sacking on July 4 and left the business four days later, just four months into a three-year contract.

The fact his contract was terminated was not made public until November 30, when it was disclosed by TasRacing during Government Business Estimates hearings.

Minister Madeleine Ogilvie. Picture: Linda Higginson

The same day Ms Ogilvie told the parliamentary committee “my clear recollection is the advice I received is that he would return for family reasons”.

On Wednesday, Ms Ogilvie revealed for the first time in parliament she had in fact been informed Mr Eriksson had been sacked.

“As Minister I was advised on the 1st of July by the TasRacing chair of the decision to terminate Mr Eriksson’s contract,” she said.

“On the 4th of July the former CEO was advised by the TasRacing board that his contract would be terminated.”

Ms Ogilvie said she was prevented from “reaching into operational matters”, including employment arrangements.

Labor's Dean Winter.

“Dear Labor Party, I know you people know what you’re up to. The mere repetition of nonsense does not make it true,” she said.

Labor MP Dean Winter said the matter was a “black and white” case.

“There cannot be a more obvious example of a minister misleading the parliament and

misleading the public than what this Minister has admitted to here today,” he said.

“She knew when she put the statement out that he had been terminated, that he hadn’t just decided to go back to Sydney.

Mr Winter said Ms Ogilvie’s subsequent statement to the GBE hearings made matters worse.

“It wasn’t true. The Minister said today that she was told his employment was terminated.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said lying by omission was the same as misleading parliament. She was ordered to withdraw the comment by Speaker Mark Shelton.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff described the opposition’s attempt to censure Ms Ogilvie as “a stunt”.