Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for SPORT and EVENTS, Mr DUIGAN
I am a bit surprised that you or no-one from Sport and Events has listened to the podcast, given the seriousness of the allegations that it raises and the fact that Camille Bianchi was the journalist whose podcast blew open the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) and Griffin at the LGH. This podcast has been out for a couple of months now and, as minister, what I understand is that you are not aware of it, which is something.
I did not catch quite the end of your answer. Did you say you would be requesting some information from Athletics Tasmania in relation to the allegations made in the podcast and, obviously not you, but has anyone from your department met with the whistleblower, Scott Goldsmith, to understand the nature of these historical offences and whether they have been appropriately dealt with?
ANSWER
Mr President, again, I am not aware of the podcast. I have not listened to it. I am aware of Camille Bianchi and her work in previous circumstances. I have committed to ask the department for an update on what they know about it. I will take some advice and form a view from there.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you for your answer, minister. I hope you understand that we will come back. Today is only Tuesday. Hopefully you will have some advice for the Council sometime over the next two sitting days.
There are other allegations that have been made about high levels of athlete injury and bullying at Athletics Tasmania. When you engage with your department, can I ask that you ask the department or you, yourself, ask Athletics Tasmania to provide some information on the level of athlete on‑track injury in both training and competition?
Mr DUIGAN – Again, I assume these are further allegations raised in this podcast of which you are speaking?
Ms O’CONNOR – These are not in the podcast. As I understand it, this information has been provided to the government.
Mr DUIGAN – Okay. Again, that is something that I would be happy to canvas with my department and take some advice. In relation to allegations made in the podcast of which you speak, if there are serious allegations, I would hope that they have been raised with the police as that would be ‑
Ms O’CONNOR – They were.
Mr DUIGAN – ‑ as that would be more appropriate than Athletics Tasmania, perhaps, or, indeed ‑
Ms O’CONNOR – Athletics Tasmania was the employer.
Mr DUIGAN – ‑ in my department. Again, thank you for the insight.
