Two senior state government staff are allowed to participate in confidential cabinet discussions, a leaked document shows.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Premier Will Hodgman expects his chief-of-staff Brad Stansfield and Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC) secretary Greg Johannes to attend all cabinet meetings, according to a note prepared for Mr Hodgman by DPAC.
"I also expect both Brad and Greg to participate in our conversations as required and as they see fit, particularly to clarify matters of fact," the note says.
Mr Hodgman said the inclusion of Mr Johannes and Mr Stansfield was not "unusual or unprecedented".
"It is entirely appropriate for the chief of staff to the Premier and the secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, as well as other senior officials, to attend cabinet and provide advice as required," he said.
The note also says that ministers are expected not to bring mobile phones and iPads into cabinet meetings, however Mr Stansfield was to be exempt from this rule.
"He will ensure that if there is any urgent news that must be brought to our attention from outside then it can be," it says.
A government spokesman said the note, which was prepared for the first cabinet meeting, was not read out by the premier.
But Opposition Leader Bryan Green said the note showed the extraordinary power wielded by Mr Stansfield.
"Tasmanians would be very concerned to learn that an unelected, unaccountable individual has a high degree of influence over setting public policy within the Hodgman Liberal government, including decisions relating to the state budget," he said.
"The very fact that the premier’s personal speaking notes have been leaked to the media shows that there is unrest within the highest levels of the Hodgman government at the chief of staff’s extraordinary influence."