Commission of Inquiry (23 Nov 2020)

All Staff

Tasmanian State Service

Dear Colleagues,

The Premier has today announced that he intends to recommend to Her Excellency, the Governor that she establish a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1995, to investigate the responses of Tasmanian Government Agencies in relation to the management of historical allegations of child sexual abuse.

The inquiry is to commence in 2021, and will complement, not substitute, the ongoing implementation work of the recommendations from the Royal Commission’s investigation into the Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The current Agency-specific investigations that are taking place will continue until the Commission of Inquiry is established.

It is envisaged the information being gathered from the current Agency investigations will be rolled into the Commission of Inquiry once it is established. With the key driver for the establishment of this inquiry being the power an inquiry has to compel witnesses to provide evidence, this will further strengthen the current investigations; ensure we learn from the past and that we have the right practices and processes in place to protect our children and young people.

The Premier will take advice on the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry over the coming weeks and will recommend the final Terms of Reference along with the names of the Commissioners to Her Excellency in due course. It is expected the Commission will take approximately twelve months to complete.

I will continue to keep you informed on this critically important work as further details are decided. I encourage you to read the Premier’s full statement on the Premier’s website ‘Premier’s Statement – Commission of Inquiry’.

Your sincerely