Commission of Inquiry Draft Terms of Reference & COVID Update (17 Dec 2020)

All Staff

TASMANIAN STATE SERVICE

Dear Colleagues,

Commission of Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Last month, the Premier announced he had recommended to the Governor that she establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the responses of Tasmanian Government Agencies in relation to the management of allegations of child sexual abuse.

Today, Government released the draft Terms of Reference for the Commission. You can access the draft here: https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/inquiry. Further information regarding the establishment of the Commission will be provided early in the new year.

I understand that discussion of these matters can be distressing for some and if any of the issues covered in the draft Terms of Reference or the other information about the Inquiry raise any issues for you, or you feel you would like to speak to someone, there are a range of supports available including speaking to your Manager, the EAP, Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), Lifeline (13 11 14) and 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

The Premier’s initial full statement on the Commission of Inquiry is available on his website here: ‘Premier’s Statement – Commission of Inquiry’.

COVID-19 Update

New South Wales (NSW) has recorded new cases of COVID-19 acquired outside quarantine.

Tasmania’s Public Health Services has declared a number of premises in NSW as high-risk. A list of these high-risk premises is available at Travel Alert.

Anyone already in Tasmania who has visited these premises is asked to self-isolate immediately and call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738. Travellers should advise the hotline that they have been at one of the identified premises.

Travellers who have been in New South Wales in the 14 days prior to arriving in Tasmania and are yet to arrive in Tasmania will have their Tas e-Travel pass cancelled and will need to reapply to confirm they have not visited any high-risk premises.

At this stage, the remainder of NSW remains low-risk but anyone planning to travel to Tasmania after spending time in NSW should keep up to date via www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au.