The Weiss Review into Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds, established after repeated calls from the Greens, has exposed shocking findings of his abuse and made important recommendations. However, the limited Terms of Reference and powers means there remain serious unanswered questions.
What this review has uncovered about the conduct of Paul Reynolds is harrowing and distressing. It shows decades of predatory behaviour, and the frequent grooming and abuse of many dozens of young people.
We thank the independent reviewer, Regina Weiss, for the thorough job she has done in examining the evidence available to her. We acknowledge the thoughtful, sensitive, and trauma-informed approach she took in engaging with victim-survivors, families, police officers and members of the community.
This review has resulted in a range of important recommendations the Government must adopt in full. These include measures to strengthen the Integrity Commission and give it coercive investigatory powers – some of which were previously recommended to, and rejected by, the Government. We have also long called for, and support, the recommendation that an external investigatory body to police the police on allegations of serious criminal misconduct.
This report has shone a light on extensive abuse, however unfortunately it did not have the scope to address all relevant matters, or sufficient powers to undertake the full investigation required. Serious questions remain about exactly how and why Tasmania Police didn’t properly investigate allegations against Paul Reynolds in both 2008 and 2018. We are particularly concerned certain police personnel were involved in both situations.
When we called for this review, we flagged that coercive powers would be required to properly investigate these matters. The reviewer herself points to the importance of needing such powers to get to the truth in cases such as child sexual abuse.
The Government needs to take two important steps to deal with the outstanding questions from this review,. First, they must urgently introduce legislation to strengthen the Integrity Commission’s powers. Following that, the Police Minister needs to refer the Reynolds matter, and all available evidence, to the Integrity Commission for a complete investigation.
In addition to accepting all the review’s recommendations, the Government needs to provide support and redress for victims. This includes setting aside funding for redress in the upcoming State Budget.
For the sake of all those who were victims of Paul Reynolds, its crucial we see a Government response that accepts the review’s recommendations, seeks to answer the remaining questions, and provides redress for victim-survivors.
We look forward to a comprehensive update from the Government tomorrow.
