Tasmania’s premier has copped a historic parliamentary censure after two ministers quit, also revealing the pair have used $500,000 of public money fighting an integrity body in court.
After weeks of sustained questioning, Jeremy Rockliff made the revelation on Wednesday about the legal fees spent by ex-ministers Jane Howlett and Madeleine Ogilvie.
The pair quit cabinet in recent weeks amid accusations they misled parliament and failed to provide enough information about legal matters they're involved in.
Ms Howlett has spent $405,000 of taxpayer money on legal fees and Ms Ogilvie $120,000 but further details had not been disclosed by the government.
Under questioning, the premier told parliament the separate legal matters related to court disputes with Tasmania's Integrity Commission.
Mr Rockliff, who has said the money was approved within guidelines, said Ms Howlett's figure was unlikely to increase.
The premier was on Wednesday night censured by parliament over his handling of the saga, becoming the first Tasmanian premier to cop the rebuke that carries no penalty.
The motion was successful 16 votes to 12, with support of the Greens, Labor and five independents.
It accused Mr Rockliff of failing to uphold the ministerial code of conduct in relation to Ms Ogilvie and Ms Howlett.
He also failed to ensure Ms Ogilvie corrected the record when he became aware she misled parliament and failed to answer questions about the matter, the motion said.
The premier had been given ample opportunity inside and outside parliament to answer questions, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said.
"It's his repeated failure to do so that brings us to this point," she said.
Mr Rockliff, who governs in minority, has apologised over his handling of Ms Ogilvie's matter and said he should have interrogated it further.
Ms Ogilvie in November told a parliamentary committee she wasn't a part of any legal action, before later admitting she had initiated a Supreme Court matter.
The premier said he was unable to answer questions in parliamentary hearings about the legal fees because he formed the view it risked breaching legal constraints.
"That judgement was not made lightly. It was not made for convenience," he told parliament.
Independent Kristie Johnston said the public expected greater transparency around the use of public money in a cost-of-living crisis and amid budget cuts.
Ms Howlett resigned after evidence was heard at a committee that her office was aware of campaign texts sent in breach of conventions, when she had previously claimed no knowledge.
Mr Rockliff has said details about Ms Ogilvie and Ms Howlett's matters will be made public when they legally can.
Mr Rockliff lost the confidence of parliament in 2025 over his management of the budget, prompting a snap election that returned another hung parliament.
