Tasmanian minister censured for withdrawing footy club funding after it attended opposition's media event
Nick Duigan has apologised for his choice of words. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)
In short:
The Tasmanian sports minister wrote a draft letter to a local football club, pledging $100,000 if re-elected.
He told a parliamentary scrutiny hearing the funding was withdrawn because the club did a media event with Labor.
What's next?
The Launceston Football Club, which needs a new home, said it did not push for the censure motion but hopes it leads to a solution.
Tasmanian parliamentarians have censured a minister for breaking his word to a football club after its president attended a rival political party's media event, with some labelling the move as "vindictive" and an example of "pork barrelling".
During the recent state election campaign, both the Liberals and Labor vowed to help the North Launceston Football Club.
The club was not included in a $130 million upgrade to the York Park stadium, where it is based, and now needs alternative facilities.
But after the Liberals were re-elected, they reneged on $100,000 promised to the club in a "draft" letter sent during the campaign.
Sports minister Nick Duigan told a parliamentary hearing last month he left the letter unsigned because the club president, Adrian Hall, stood with Labor at a media event.
During the recent state election campaign, both the Liberals and Labor vowed to help the North Launceston Football Club (Supplied)
At a hearing, Labor's Dean Winter asked Mr Duigan why the funding had been withdrawn.
Mr Duigan said: "I believe Mr Hall, shortly after I've sent him that letter [pledging funding], went out and stood next to you."
"You [Mr Winter] provided an alternative to him and on the basis of that I chose not to sign my letter."
Apology for 'poor choice of words'
On Thursday, Mr Duigan apologised for his "poor choice of words" and said he meant to say the funding was withheld because he believed the club preferred Labor's solution, not because it did a media event with Labor.
"I regret that my answers may have given the North Launceston Football Club or the general public the impression that I would ever seek to punish a club in the decision I make for meeting with other members of parliament, as is their clear right," he said.
He said he would have further conversations with the club following its annual general meeting next week.
The club has not been included in a $130 million upgrade to its current base at York Park. (Austadiums.com)
But Labor leader Josh Willie called his behaviour a "gross misuse of power" and moved to formally reprimand him through a censure motion.
"If we allow ministers of the crown to get away with this sort of conduct, what does it say about this parliament?"he said.
He also referenced a statement from North Launceston Football Club president Mr Hall, saying the arrangement was "only ever contingent on the Liberals being re-elected and nothing else".
The move passed the House of Assembly 19 votes to 14.
The motion also called on the state government to reinstate the promised funding.
'Not worthy of a censure,' Abetz says
Liberal Member for Franklin Eric Abetz urged his colleagues not to support the motion.
"This is not worthy of a censure," he said in parliament.
"This is a situation that [Mr Duigan] regrets. He's apologised for it."
Eric Abetz urged his colleagues not to support the motion. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
But Greens member for Bass Cecily Rosol labelled the behaviour "pork barrelling".
"That's vindictive. It's a punishment for the [North] Launceston Football Club for talking with another political party," Ms Rosol said.
Independent member for Franklin Peter George described it as "a mad hatter's version of sports rorts".
"It smacks strongly of retribution,"he said.
Mr Duigan has not yet commented on his censure.
Following the censure motion passing parliament, Mr Willie criticised Premier Jeremy Rockliff for not reprimanding Mr Duigan himself.
"From the crime to the cover up and the last-minute attempt at contrition, when the writing was on the wall, Minister Duigan's actions were unforgivable," he said.
"However, the premier's lack of care, and failure to do anything about it, are arguably just as bad."
Club president 'expected' Liberal promise to be kept
Adrian Hall hopes the censure motion will lead to a solution for his club. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
Mr Hall said he had been frustrated by suggestions he was trying to play political parties off against each other.
"Whilst I canvassed alternative views, I was only ever going to have one option and that was contingent upon who was to be elected," he told the ABC.
"So when a pre-election promise was made to me by the Liberal Party, contingent only upon their successful election, I expected it to be complied with."
While he said he had never pushed for the censure motion, he hoped it led to a solution for his club, which remains without a home by the end of 2027.
"I do hope that it has a beneficial effect," he said.
"That we can get back on the straight and narrow in terms of our ongoing communication around the solution for my football club."