Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
From the day the commission of inquiry report was released, your Government has been asked repeatedly about the individuals who may have escaped findings being made against them in the commission's final report. Victims/survivors and whistleblowers, many of whom are watching today, have demanded answers and we collectively have tried to get them. First, you denied there was any need to respond. Eventually, you announced some reviews and then after two full days of intense scrutiny, late yesterday we finally got some actual information from the Government. Talk about being dragged kicking and screaming towards a shred of transparency.
This is just one of the many recent examples where your Government has persistently demonstrated its addiction to secrecy. You continue to show it is only when the politics get too dangerous that you will consider doing the right thing.
Can you not see there is a desperate need for cultural change, not just in the State Service but in your Cabinet? Do you acknowledge this change is essential for your response to the commission of inquiry to be transparent, accountable, urgent and real?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for her question and can inform her, as I have said repeatedly, we will leave no stone unturned. Victims/survivors and the broader Tasmanian community rightly expect that no stone is left unturned in taking action to the commission of inquiry report. We recognise the need for cultural change. We clearly recognised that before the handing down of the commission of inquiry report, as evidenced by the actions that were taken with respect to the Department of Health on cultural change and recognised - in recognition again of the need for cultural change - the day the commission's report was tabled.
On 26 September, I announced some $4.5 million to support that cultural change right throughout our State Service, irrespective of department and, as I committed to in parliament on 17 October, yesterday my department published a routine disclosure providing an update of assessment and actions by relevant heads of agencies of current and former State Service employees referred to in the commission of inquiry report.
Dr Woodruff - Why did you not provide that yourself?
Mr SPEAKER - Leader of the Greens, order.
Mr ROCKLIFF - This disclosure also included an update on assessments and actions by heads of agencies of current and former employees who may be alleged perpetrators referred to in the commission of inquiry report.
I stress again that all allegations of child sexual abuse are referred straightaway to Tasmania Police and relevant regulatory authorities, in addition to assessments by heads of agency. This disclosure also includes an update of assessment and actions by the commissioner of Police of current and former Tasmania Police officers in relation to matters referred to in the commission of inquiry report. I remain committed, and our Government remains committed, to providing the community with as much information as is permitted by law.
As I have repeatedly said, I understand there are concerns that individuals will not be held accountable for their actions. While I will not be providing further detail on individual employment matters, this does not mean that action is not being taken. No individual agency details are identified to provide the appropriate confidentiality of employee information, particularly with processes that may well be under way.
I want to assure parliament and the Tasmanian community that we are taking action to ensure that we respond to these concerns and ensure that all issues have been identified and addressed. That will continue as we work over the course of the next number of years, bearing in mind that some 83 per cent of the recommendations will be implemented by 1 July 2026. Our focus is very clearly on implementing those recommendations to ensure that justice prevails and to ensure that people who came forward with courage, conviction and great bravery are not let down by any government of any political persuasion because of inaction around investing in and implementing the recommendations.
The commission went back 23 years, since the year 2000, and highlighted deep failures. We will address every single one of those findings, and the recommendations.
