The powerful Public Accounts Committee wants the government to name the businesses who received grants under a controversial $26 million program in the interests of "fairness and transparency".
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The Parliamentary Standing Committee of Public Accounts inquiring into the government's financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday wrote to the Minister for Small Business, Hospitality and Events, Sarah Courtney about the hardship grants.
A copy of the letter has also been sent to Premier Peter Gutwein who has argued strongly against naming the recipients saying it could harm their mental health.
Four of the six committee members supported the request for the names to be released publicly.
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Committee chair Ivan Dean said the names of the recipients have been provided to the committee on a confidential basis.
"The committee has carefully considered arguments both for and against releasing this information and is mindful of the mental wellbeing of all recipients," Mr Dean said.
"However, the committee understands that the grant application includes a statement that the Government may publicise details for the purposes of public accountability.
"Whilst not a unanimous decision, the committee believes that, in the interests of transparency and fairness, it is appropriate to publish this information in line with accountability for the disbursement of public funds.
"The committee has therefore written to the Minister for Small Business, Hospitality and Events to request that the government resubmit the documents to the Public Accounts Committee for the purposes of publishing them along with other transcripts and evidence."
Mr Dean said the committee had been considering the grants "for a long time" and there had been a lot of requests for the names of the grant recipients to be provided publicly.
"Under the act, we are entitled to take this action," he said.
"We can ask that evidence be released and we decided on Wednesday to ask for it to be released.
"We're pursuing that action."
On Monday, two committee members, Independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest and Labor MHA David O'Byrne said the names of the grant recipients should be released publicly.
The $4000 and $15,000 grants were given to businesses struggling as a result of COVID-19.
Sue Bailey
Sue works two days a week for The Examiner and The Advocate newspapers and and is based in Hobart. Loves any human interest stories!
Sue works two days a week for The Examiner and The Advocate newspapers and and is based in Hobart. Loves any human interest stories!
