RELATED: Hodgman unaware of Mantach details PREMIER Will Hodgman has come under intense fire during a tense Question Time over his knowledge of $48,000 allegedly stolen from the Tasmanian Liberals by the party's former director. Almost all questions from Labor and the Greens were levelled at the Premier, who was pressed to detail exactly what he knew about how ex-state director Damien Mantach misappropriated almost $50,000 using a party credit card. Mr Hodgman repeated statements made to the media yesterday that he was informed the ''liability'' had been accrued by Mr Mantach in 2008, and was being repaid to the Liberals in full. Mr Hodgman said as the debt was settled, the party executive considered the matter closed. He would not say if he sought legal advice about the matter and sought to quash claims a crime was concealed for political gain. Mr Mantach is currently under investigation in Victoria for allegedly embezzling $1.5 million in Liberal election funding while working as that state's party director between 2010 and 2014. He served as the Tasmanian Liberals director between 2005 and 2008, before being forced to quit after the alleged theft was uncovered. Opposition Leader Bryan Green asked Mr Hodgman whether failing to report Mr Mantach's original misappropriation of party money had paved the way for his alleged Victorian crimes. "Has your failure to report a crime caused a much greater crime to be committed?'' he asked. Mr Hodgman flatly rejected the suggestion, saying Mr Green was ''drawing a very long bow'' and clutching at straws. He said Mr Green was in no position to give lectures on propriety, pointing to his past appearances before criminal courts.
PREMIER Will Hodgman has come under intense fire during a tense Question Time over his knowledge of $48,000 allegedly stolen from the Tasmanian Liberals by the party's former director.
Almost all questions from Labor and the Greens were levelled at the Premier, who was pressed to detail exactly what he knew about how ex-state director Damien Mantach misappropriated almost $50,000 using a party credit card.
Mr Hodgman repeated statements made to the media yesterday that he was informed the ''liability'' had been accrued by Mr Mantach in 2008, and was being repaid to the Liberals in full.
Mr Hodgman said as the debt was settled, the party executive considered the matter closed.
He would not say if he sought legal advice about the matter and sought to quash claims a crime was concealed for political gain.
Mr Mantach is currently under investigation in Victoria for allegedly embezzling $1.5 million in Liberal election funding while working as that state's party director between 2010 and 2014.
He served as the Tasmanian Liberals director between 2005 and 2008, before being forced to quit after the alleged theft was uncovered.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green asked Mr Hodgman whether failing to report Mr Mantach's original misappropriation of party money had paved the way for his alleged Victorian crimes.
"Has your failure to report a crime caused a much greater crime to be committed?'' he asked.
Mr Hodgman flatly rejected the suggestion, saying Mr Green was ''drawing a very long bow'' and clutching at straws.
He said Mr Green was in no position to give lectures on propriety, pointing to his past appearances before criminal courts.
