Griffin review will go public

Findings can’t compromise inquiry

TASMANIA Police and the state government say they are committed to making public a review of the handling of sexual abuse allegations against a serial paedophile who worked at the Launceston General Hospital.

James Geoffrey Griffin, 69, of Legana, was charged with more than a dozen offences in October 2019 relating to crimes against children as young as 11. He had worked in the Paediatric Unit at the LGH since 2001.

Griffin died soon after being charged after taking a dangerous cocktail of drugs.

Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Shelton announced a Tasmania Police review of its investigation on December 2. Preliminary advice was expected by the new year.

A Tasmania Police spokeswoman said the inquiry was “expected to be completed in the coming week”.

“The intention is that findings will be made public subject to not prejudicing the work of the commission of inquiry or breaching victim privacy.”

The government has appointed Marcia Neave as president of the upcoming commission of inquiry into the Responses of Tasmanian Government Institutions to Child Sexual Abuse, which is expected to begin within weeks.

Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the government wanted the report released.

“My understanding is that’s clearly our intention for the report to be released publicly, subject to the fact that it won’t prejudice the existing commission of inquiry,” Mr Rockliff said.

“Transparency is absolutely essential to ensure that the Tasmanian community have confidence.”

Labor’s child safety spokeswoman, Sarah Lovell, said releasing the police review was vital.

“This report will play a critical role in the work of the inquiry to ascertain how Griffin was able to allegedly commit offences when he was in a position of trust working with children at the LGH,” she said.

Ms Lovell said there was already an unacceptable level of secrecy surrounding the 14 public sector workers who have been stood down over abuse claims.