Commission of Inquiry Reporting Date (04 Apr 2023)

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware, in 2020 the Tasmanian Government announced a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the responses of Tasmanian Government Agencies in relation to the management of allegations of child sexual abuse.

The Premier has today announced that Government has received a request from the President of the Commission of Inquiry to grant an extension to the Commission’s final report to 31 August 2023.

This represents a four-month extension to the Commission’s current reporting date of 1 May 2023. The Premier has agreed in principle to the President’s request.

The Premier has indicated that government will make all best endeavours to table the Commission’s report in Parliament as soon as possible after presentation to Her Excellency, the Governor and has committed to tabling it no later than 28 September 2023. This timeframe takes account of the Commission of Inquiry Act’s requirement for the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament within 10 sitting days of the Governor receiving the report.

The extension is intended to give the Commission the time it needs to finish its important work, to give due consideration to the very significant matters it is considering and to ensure it complies with its legal obligations. It is also important to ensure procedural fairness obligations are considered through the process of developing and finalising the Report.

I note the Premier has been very clear that the decision to request an extension was not taken lightly by the Commission, and neither has Government taken its decision to grant the extension lightly.  I would like to echo the Premier’s acknowledgement of the impact on victim survivors, employees right across the State Service, and the Tasmanian community.

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate how sorry I am for, and saddened by, the suffering of all victims of child sexual abuse in government institutional settings, and for the failings of those institutions to protect them. All societies owe a profound duty of care to their children. I recognise the courage of those victim-survivors who shared their experiences with the Commission – I listened to their stories and am resolved to do what I can within the authority that I have to ensure those experiences are not repeated in government institutions. I know all Department Secretaries share this resolve.

There is an enormous amount of work already happening across government to keep Tasmania’s children safer and focus on their wellbeing, both in our government institutions and in the community. All of this work is underway in advance of the release of the Commission’s Report, which of course will give us a further roadmap of work we need to do to ensure our children are as safe as they can possibly be.

I understand that discussion of these matters can be very distressing for some.  If anything associated with the Commission or the extension to its reporting timeline raises issues for you or someone around you, you can reach out to the following services:

• Your Agency’s EAP
• Lifeline – 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636
• 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732
• Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
• MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978

The Tasmanian Government has provided additional resources to the Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS) and Laurel House to provide support to victim-survivors of institutional child sexual abuse in Tasmania or Tasmanian State Service employees affected.

SASS provides a 24 hour crisis response and information/support service which can be accessed by telephoning 1800 MYSUPPORT (1800 697 877).

This is a state-wide number for the whole of Tasmania and calls will automatically be directed to a trained professional in the region closest to you. In southern Tasmania this is our SASS staff, while calls from the north and north west regions are received by the relevant local organisation.

As I have said throughout the Commission’s process, as a public servant I encourage you in the strongest possible terms to speak up if you have any concern in relation to child safety. It is always ok to speak up without fear of reprisal.

If you have concerns for the safety or welfare of a child, call the Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123. If a child is at immediate risk and Police or medical assistance is required, dial 000.

Best wishes