Premier’s adviser Martine Haley admits using fake social media account

A SENIOR Liberal adviser used a fake email account in an attempt to have a woman reprimanded by her employer over her stance on abortion, the Women’s Legal Service says.

The Premier’s chief adviser Martine Haley has admitted using fake social media accounts.

A SENIOR Liberal adviser has been caught using a fake email account in an attempt to have a woman reprimanded by her employer over her stance on abortion, the Women’s Legal Service of Tasmania says.

WLS lawyer Susan Fahey said a woman approached her about a social media incident on Twitter relating to one of Premier Will Hodgman’s advisers, Martine Haley.

Ms Fahey said that the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, wrote on Twitter her views about the Liberal Government’s stance on access to abortion in Tasmania.

Ms Fahey said in the comments the woman disagreed with the Liberal Government’s suggestion that there was ample access to abortion clinics in Tasmania.

Ms Fahey said that Ms Haley, who knew the woman in question, took a screenshot of the tweets and sent them to the woman’s employer using a fake email under the alias Alice Wood-Jones.

It is unclear what Twitter handle Ms Haley used but the page Alice Wood-Jones cannot be found on Twitter. It can, however, be found on Facebook and Ms Haley has liked posts on that profile.

“I guess what Martine thought was to damage the relationship of the woman with her employer,” Ms Fahey said.

“Martine knows this woman and she thought that by expressing that view [on abortion] she was being disloyal to the government [as] she works in a role where her job relies on her working with government.

“The woman in question had a feeling she knew who it was and contacted the Liberal office and she was then contacted by Martine to go to a meeting.”

Ms Fahey was asked by the woman to support her at the meeting.

“She [Ms Haley] didn’t try to deny it, she came out and apologised and said it was not of the Premier’s knowledge.”

A Liberal Government spokesman confirmed the incident was being invesetigated.

“The Premier became aware of this issue yesterday,” he said. “It is entirely unacceptable [and] appropriate action is being taken.”

Ms Fahey also said Ms Haley was using the Facebook alias to troll other Labor pages.

Ms Haley was contacted for comment.