Labor says it is taking too long to settle cases over notorious LGH sex offender James ‘Jim’ Griffin
None of the 13 civil claims brought against the government relating to Launceston General Hospital pedophile James Griffin have yet been finalised, the government has revealed.
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None of the 13 civil claims brought against the government relating to Launceston General Hospital pedophile James Griffin have yet been finalised, the government has revealed.
The 69-year-old took his own life in October 2019 after being charged with more than a dozen offences.
Revelations about his offending – and the mishandling of repeated allegations by Health bureaucrats – former a central part of deliberations of the recent Commission of Inquiry.
Griffin worked in the Paediatric Unit attached to Launceston hospital from 2001 onwards.
He was accused of offences spanning a period of 28 years, beginning in 1987 and involving children as young as 11.
Figures released in response to a question on notice asked of Health Minister Guy Barnett during Commission of Inquiry scrutiny hearings reveal 13 victim-survivors have brought legal claims against the state.
“To date, the Department of Health has not settled any civil litigation relating to victim-survivors of James Griffin,” Mr Barnett said in a written response.
“I am advised by the Department of Justice that there have been six claims under the National Redress Scheme.
“Any information relating to these matters is protected by Commonwealth legislation.”
Labor’s Child Safety spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said it was hard to fathom that the state government hadn’t settled claims for victim-survivors of James Griffin yet.
“Why is this taking so long? Surely victim-survivors deserve some form of closure by having their claims swiftly dealt with,” she asked.
“It’s akin to the delays in concluding investigations into public servants alleged to have committed child sexual offences which are also taking far too long.”
A Department of Health spokesperson said the cases were being handled with due care.
“The Department of Health is actively engaged with the State Litigation Office to work through these matters carefully and thoroughly, and in a trauma informed and efficient manner,” he said.
Former Attorney-General Elise Archer established the State Litigation Office in April to take over the management of the state’s civil litigation.
The revelations come after The Mercury revealed that taxpayers have forked out the equivalent of more than 60 years worth of full-time wages to public sector workers accused of child sex offences.
Labor’s Shane Broad on Friday said the government must explain promptly why so many were on paid leave for so long.
“After backflipping from his initial position of taking no action whatsoever, the Premier needs to let the public know before Christmas the outcomes of his Departmental Secretary’s urgent review of the fact it has taken his government years to investigate public servants accused of child sex offences.
“And given his government has been paying these people their full salary throughout those investigations, he must also immediately confirm the total cost to taxpayers.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Labor should stop politicising the issue.
“I have tasked the Head of the State Service with urgently providing assurances that all available legal and workplace remedies to resolve outstanding matters are being taken as quickly as is possible, mindful that some may involve legal complexities that may be preventing such outcomes,” he said.
“Despite victim-survivors pleading with the Labor party to stop playing politics and work together to keep children safe, Dr Broad continues this negative approach.
“The Tasmanian Liberal Government will not be distracted from keeping our children safe and holding those who have harmed our children accountable.”
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Originally published as Labor says it is taking too long to settle cases over notorious LGH sex offender James ‘Jim’ Griffin
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