Political staffer alleges she was ordered to campaign for Liberal candidate

A former Liberal government staffer has alleged she was directed to conduct extensive political campaign work for a Liberal candidate while employed by the government, contradicting official guidelines that prohibit such activity during work hours. Sharee Minnikin-Smith testified before a parliamentary committee on Friday, stating that for five months prior to the 2024 state election, she performed tasks such as door-knocking, letterboxing, and compiling lists of potential voters for Jane Howlett, a Liberal candidate, using government resources and time. Minnikin-Smith worked as a parliamentary advisor for Leonie Hiscutt, who was the leader of the government in the upper house at the time. She claimed that although she was hired to assist with legislative matters, her responsibilities shifted significantly toward supporting Howlett’s re-election bid in the Legislative Council seat of Prosser. This shift occurred despite the fact that she had previously served as a membership engagement officer for the Liberal Party. The allegations come amid scrutiny of how government employees balance their roles. While ministers and parliamentary staff are permitted to engage in political activities, these must occur outside of their official duties. The Integrity Commission has clarified that such activities cannot be carried out during work hours. Minnikin-Smith described her efforts for Howlett as “100 per cent for Jane Howlett” during office hours, suggesting a clear conflict between her assigned duties and the actual work she performed. The state government has dismissed the claims, with a spokesperson calling them “incorrect.” Meanwhile, Howlett faced mounting pressure earlier this year due to a legal battle involving $405,000 in taxpayer funds allocated to cover her legal costs. The funds were tied to an ongoing Integrity Commission investigation, though specific details remain confidential. Howlett stepped down from cabinet in response to criticism from both the opposition and independent lawmakers. Minnikin-Smith also raised concerns about her treatment within Howlett’s office, indicating she felt her role had diverged from what she initially understood. Although she filed a complaint with the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TasCAT), she decided not to pursue it further. Her testimony included references to an email titled “A strong plan for the Tasman region,” sent just before the 2024 election, which she argued represented an explicit directive to support Howlett’s campaign. During the hearing, Liberal MP Marcus Vermey questioned the relevance of Minnikin-Smith’s account, emphasizing that the committee’s focus should be on the upcoming 2025 state election rather than past events. Despite his objections, the committee chair, Greens MP Tabatha Badger, allowed the testimony to proceed based on a prior decision to accept such evidence. The inquiry into the 2025 election campaign comes at a sensitive time for the Liberal Party, which faces internal challenges and external scrutiny regarding the conduct of its officials. The committee aims to ensure transparency and adherence to caretaker conventions ahead of the next election. As the investigation continues, attention will turn to whether similar issues have arisen in recent elections and how they might affect future electoral processes. The case highlights the tension between political obligations and administrative duties within government structures. It also raises questions about the enforcement of existing rules governing the separation of political and governmental functions. With the committee poised to examine more evidence, the outcome could influence how such conflicts are managed in the future.