‘ I can’t change the past but I can change the future’
PREMIER ORDERS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO ABUSE
A COMMISSION of inquiry into child sexual abuse in government institutions will begin in the new year and report within 12 months, Premier Peter Gutwein has announced.
In a surprise move, Mr Gutwein, right, announced the commission of inquiry — the first in the state in 20 years — during budget estimates hearings on Monday.
The head of the inquiry has not yet been decided.
The commission will have the power to hold hearings in public, to call witnesses and to demand the production of documents.
The terms of reference will be formulated over coming weeks.
A COMMISSION of inquiry into child sexual abuse in government institutions will begin in the new year and report within 12 months, Premier Peter Gutwein has announced.
In a surprise move, Mr Gutwein announced the commission of inquiry — the first in the state in 20 years — during budget estimates hearings on Monday.
The head of the inquiry has not yet been decided.
The commission will have the power to hold hearings in public, to call witnesses and to demand production of documents. The terms of reference will be formulated in coming weeks.
Mr Gutwein said it would replace the three inquiries already announced: into allegations of abuse in the Health Department, the Education Department and the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
“There is no more important task for any government than to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our children and while I cannot change the past, I am committed to my government making a difference for the future,” he said.
“Tasmanians should ready themselves as we move forward. With more than 200 claims already being received, we are going to see more.”
Mr Gutwein said he had been prompted by fresh allegation, which he was made aware of late last week, to reverse his position.
“It’s very unfortunate that since these three separate bodies of inquiry have been instigated, on Friday last week I was briefed on further cases of historic allegations of child sexual abuse involving current government employees,” he said. “I want to be very clear that the allegations are historical.
“They involve a teacher at a northern school who has been stood down and charged; and a Statewide Mental Health Services staff member who has been stood down subject to the outcome of criminal proceedings relating to a historic allegation that did not occur in the work environment.”
Mr Gutwein said his government had adopted the majority of the 281 relevant recommendations of the commonwealth Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and had introduced laws to better protect children from abuse.
“Despite these and other significant efforts across government, I am concerned that as the number of allegations coming to light continues to grow we must take every step necessary to ensure we identify any systemic gaps and put in place measures to fill them,” he said.
“One of the key reasons I have come to the decision to recommend the establishment of a commission of inquiry is the power of that inquiry to compel witnesses to provide evidence.”
Commissions of inquiry are the Tasmanian equivalent of royal commissions in other states. There has been only one inquiry in Tasmania under the Commissioner of Inquiry Act passed in 1995.
The Act gives the commissioner power to hold public hearings and receive written submissions. Witnesses can be required to give evidence even if it incriminates them and the usual rules of evidence in court proceedings do not apply.
The Act also gives the commission the power to apply for warrants to enter premises to search for and seize documents and to apply to use surveillance devices.