Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for CHILDREN and YOUTH, Ms PALMER
In August of last year, Tasmania Police received legal advice stating that police officers are not subject to the Reportable Conduct Scheme. This means that if a police officer engages in concerning conduct, the matter can’t be reported to the Office of the Independent Regulator under that scheme. In November of 2025, the Woolcott Review made a specific recommendation to explicitly include Tasmania Police as a regulated entity subject to Reportable Conduct Scheme. Last month, the Independent Regulator, Louise Coe, also raised this matter during committee proceedings. She told the Commission of Inquiry oversight committee that she understood the government was looking to fix this issue, which is good, but she was also at pains to say that any fix must apply retrospectively. She specifically cited concerns about: (tbc 2.31)
Significant interactions with young people, period. The regulator will not be able to investigate those concerns unless the reform applies from 1 August last year.
Minister, can you please provide an update on the status of the government’s work to ensure the Reportable Conduct Scheme applies to Tasmania Police and can you confirm you’ve accepted the Independent Regulator’s recommendation for this change to apply from August of 2025?
ANSWER
I will seek some advice. I thank the member for the question. I think some parts of your question may go to other ministers and some would sit with me. I will take that on notice so I can seek some advice and come back to you.
Supplementary Question
Ms O’CONNOR – Madam Acting President, can we have some indication from the minister when that question might be answered?
Ms PALMER – As soon as I possibly can.
