No answers on abusers

State Service queries left hanging

NO state government minister is able to say whether child abusers identified by a royal commission are working in the Tasmanian State Service.

Labor members have asked a series of questions on the topic during budget estimates hearings this week.

They want to know whether any person subject to adverse mention before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse or its redress scheme, still works for the State Service.

But neither the Premier, Attorney-General nor Police Minister have been able to answer. Police Commissioner Darren Hine said it was not his responsibility.

Labor’s Michelle O’Byrne, pictured, said it was hard to believe nobody knew.

“We asked the Premier this question as the head of the public service and the Premier couldn’t answer it and said we should ask that question in the portfolio of Justice,” she said.

“We asked the AttorneyGeneral this question, who is — as she constantly reminds us — the chief law officer of the land.

“She could not answer this question and suggested we go to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner of Police cannot answer this question.

“These are three of the most senior positions within our state and no one can tell us whether or not there are people who were named in the royal commission who are currently employed in the state service.

“Why will none of you answer the question and do you understand that there are potentially children at risk, because no one in your government is taking responsibility about who may be named in the royal commission, being employed in our state government?”

Police Minister Jacquie Petrusma suggested Ms O’Byrne write a letter to the Premier.

“This government takes a zero-tolerance approach,’’ she said.

“How do you know, you don’t even know the answer to the question?” Ms O’Byrne interjected “Who the hell is responsible for finding out whether not there are people named in the royal commission who are employed in the state service currently?”

Ms Petrusma later said it was a matter for the head of each government agency.

The committee heard police did not know how many children had been strip-searched in the last year.

“It’s not data that we routinely capture,” Deputy Commissioner Donna Adams said.

Commissioner Hine said strip searchers of children were “extremely rare”.

david.killick@news.com.au