![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/630ef3fb6ebc177f10ae71f06de71f91.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nTasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff is calling for Madeleine Ogilvie to resign from cabinet or be sacked, alleging the environment minister misled parliament over her legal action.<\/p>\n
Ms Ogilvie revealed on Thursday she was involved in a court case which she had initiated, having told a parliamentary committee last year she was not subject or party to any Supreme Court matters.<\/p>\n
Ms Woodruff said Ms Ogilvie needed to offer her resignation, or else the premier should ask for her resignation.<\/p>\n
“She has deliberately misled parliament, she’s doubled down, and reinforced that deliberate misleading on a number of occasions,” the Greens leader said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rosalie Woodruff says Madeleine Ogilvie has “deliberately misled” parliament. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)<\/p>\n
On November 17, Ms Ogilvie answered “no” when asked by Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor during a budget estimates hearing if she had “been a subject or party to any Supreme Court matters” in the prior 18 months.<\/p>\n
A clarification note to the committee from Ms Ogilvie, dated November 20, reads:\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I would like to add to an answer I gave yesterday. I have not been the subject of legal proceedings initiated by another party. However I reserve my right to take any action or steps I deem necessary to protect my legal rights at any time.”<\/p>\n
The note, which was not published to the parliament website, did not mention legal proceedings started by Ms Ogilvie.<\/p>\n
The minister also did not mention the proceedings when asked about Supreme Court action again by the Greens in parliament last week.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Ms Ogilvie was asked by the Greens to clarify whether the assertion she made in estimates was true.<\/p>\n
“In the interests of avoidance of doubt, I want to make clear that I am a party to a matter currently before the Supreme Court initiated by me in the execution of my duties as minister,” Ms Ogilvie said.<\/p>\n
“I am not able at this time to provide any details regarding the matter, but I will do so at the earliest possible opportunity when I am legally able to do so.”<\/p>\n
Speaking outside of parliament, Ms Woodruff said the clarification was “reinforcing” that Ms Ogilvie had misled parliament.<\/p>\n
“The minister has had so many opportunities to correct the record. She has deliberately deceived people throughout this process,” she said.<\/p>\n
“On the basis of that, according to the Ministerial Code of Conduct, she needs to tender her resignation to Jeremy Rockliff, and if she won’t do that, he needs to sack her.”<\/p>\n
Last December, it was revealed Ms Ogilvie had billed taxpayers $120,494 for unknown legal action<\/a>.<\/p>\n The legal fees of cabinet members have been a topic of debate within Tasmania’s parliament. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)<\/p>\n Opposition backs ‘misleading’ calls<\/p>\n Labor’s Leader of Opposition Business Ella Haddad said “it seems clear” that Ms Ogilvie had misled parliament.<\/p>\n She said the November 20 clarification was not a “terribly truthful one”.<\/p>\n Secrecy surrounds Tasmanian MP legal bills<\/a><\/p>\n A large sum of public money has been spent on legal fees for politicians. The Tasmanian government says in one case, it’s “not legally possible” to explain why.<\/p>\n “The Liberals have a track record of trying to be very sneaky with their language, and remove nuance in a way that serves their purpose,” Ms Haddad said.<\/p>\n Asked if she would support any further action on the floor of parliament, Ms Haddad said she would “wait and see”.<\/p>\n Ms Ogilvie holds the portfolios of environment; innovation, science and the digital economy; community and multicultural affairs; and arts and heritage.<\/p>\n The Greens asked in parliament which portfolios the legal proceedings were related to, but she said she could not provide the details.<\/p>\n Ella Haddad says she will “wait and see” before deciding whether to support further action against Madeleine Ogilvie. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n Ms Woodruff said the minister should be able to say when the legal action had started, whether it was ongoing, and what portfolio it related to.<\/p>\n “None of those questions are going to prejudice a matter before the courts,” she said.<\/p>\n Ms Ogilvie declined to comment when approached by the ABC, referring back to her comments in parliament.<\/p>\n More than $400,000 spent on unknown action<\/p>\n Ms Ogilvie is not the only current government minister with unknown legal action paid for by taxpayers.<\/p>\n Public officers, including ministers and members of government, are entitled to indemnity or legal assistance for proceedings that arise out of doing their job.<\/p>\n Minister’s legal bill revealed as topping $300,000<\/a><\/p>\n Tasmanian Racing Minister Jane Howlett spent $303,800 of public money on legal fees, questioning in parliament reveals.<\/p>\n The government has spent $300,000 on legal fees for Racing Minister Jane Howlett.<\/p>\n Ms Howlett has not explained what the legal matter is, citing legal privilege, but has also promised an explanation after the resolution.<\/p>\n Former cabinet minister Mark Shelton has had $14,958 in his legal fees covered<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Tasmanian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fbb328f7973aa7a7550fa06ec5a15cf3.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1be5d862c1ac1bb1ea84a653d4608ca8.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n