Paedo’s role at abuse talks a shock
The minister overseeing the Royal Commission of Inquiry into state abuse is “horrified” a convicted paedophile may have been let into meetings with sex abuse survivors.
But while she admitted it was a “shocking situation”, Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin said she could not get directly involved in the commission’s work.
She has told officials to seek advice about what she can do and said she has “severe concerns” about the commission’s decision-making abilities.
“I’m pretty horrified, this is a really shocking situation for such an important inquiry and particularly for those survivors.” Martin said her faith in the commission’s has been “shaken” and she has refused to express confidence in its leadership.
Speaking in New York, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wouldn’t say if she had lost faith in the commission, only that it “has to rebuild faith with those they are working alongside”.
The child sex offender was the partner of one of the members of the advisory group and accompanied them to the location of meetings, according to Survivor Advisory Group sponsor Paul Gibson.
He said the commission was aware of the convictions in May but their nature was disclosed to a commission employee only on August 22 and it “immediately took action”. A first meeting was held on September 11.
“At no point did the person attend a Survivor Advisory Group meeting.”
However, Newsroom reports survivors said the man attended three meetings — leaving some retraumatised by his presence.
Gibson said while all inquiry staff were vetted by police, group members and their partners were not.
He said formal screening of the group had now begun.
Martin yesterday said she had found out about the situation in the morning. Asked about her reaction, she said it was “pretty much the same as [National leader] Simon Bridges”.
He said it was “impossible to comprehend how a person . . . convicted of such heinous crimes was allowed anywhere near meetings which included survivors of sexual abuse”.
The breach is the latest in a succession of problems for the inquiry.
Bridges said the issues had now led to people to question whether they had confidence in the process.
But Martin said when the commission was set up, survivors said they wanted an independent probe.
“That means I have very little powers over [it].”