Clarity Needed On Police Response to Reportable Deaths Matter

Family members of those that died at the LGH were surprised and distressed police chose not to press charges against Dr Peter Renshaw for wrongly reporting deaths at the LGH, despite a Health Department review finding that he repeatedly broke the law. They rightfully have questions about how this could happen.

The Greens have been seeking information about what steps Tasmania Police took to examine this matter. We wrote to the Police Commissioner in good faith in January, and having not received a response, we asked Minister Ellis for clarity in Parliament.

Unfortunately, community members will not be reassured by the answer we received from Minister Ellis. From what we heard, it sounds like police only undertook a desktop review of the material they received from the Department of Health Review, and did not undertake their own investigation. If that’s the case, it would explain why the police never interviewed key witnesses to Dr Renshaw’s conduct.

Given the serious nature of this matter, and the public interest, we are hoping the Police Minister can provide further clarity about exactly what steps Tasmania Police took. Can he confirm only a desktop review was done? If not, what other steps were taken?

Family members deserve to know whether a proper investigation was undertaken, or whether this was simply a desktop review of the evidence they’d already been presented. The Police Minister must provide further information to the Parliament on whether there was an actual investigation of incorrect reporting of deaths at the LGH.

Minister Ellis in Parliament today:
“All available evidence was thoroughly reviewed by Tasmania Police and advice was sought from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

DPP advised that there is insufficient evidence to lay charges in respect to this matter. Based on the available evidence, Tasmania Police has determined that no further investigation will occur, pending any new information received”