Abuse of kids inquiry

Education probe welcome

AN independent inquiry will look into the Department of Education’s responses to child sexual abuse, the state government announced on Thursday.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff told state parliament the inquiry would ensure the public education system was doing all it could to protect young people from abuse.

“In recent years the Tasmanian government has undertaken significant reforms to protect children in response to cases of abuse that were highlighted prior to and through the Royal Commission of Institutional Responses for Child Sexual Abuse,” he said.

“This includes introducing the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People process and mandatory report obligations for all Department of Education staff.”

Mr Rockliff said the department was implementing or had implemented 23 recommendations from the Royal Commission. He said the inquiry would examine “past systems and whether the legislation, policies, practices and procedures used by the Department of Education now operate in a way that minimises the risk of child sexual abuse within Tasmanian government schools”.

“I want to make sure we are doing absolutely everything possible to protect children and to provide some comfort and, if possible, closure to survivors of child sexual abuse.”

The terms of reference for the inquiry were made public on Thursday and further details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the inquiry was a good step.

“This is a very significant announcement for survivors of historical sexual abuse and misconduct in the Department of Education and we warmly commend the minister for taking this investigation away from the department, making sure that it’s independent and giving survivors a voice,” she said.

“Tasmania’s Department of Education has never fully explained its historical wrongs that left vulnerable children prey to pedophile teachers who were moved from school to school.”

Labor leader Rebecca White said the inquiry was a welcome development.

“Nobody in this state wants to see a young person have to go through that and if we can prevent those circumstances from occurring again through an inquiry like this, that will inform the government’s policies, that’s a really important thing to do.”

david.killick@news.com.au