Minister Mark Shelton did not warn other departments about paedophile nurse James Griffin
Police Minister Mark Shelton admitted he did not pass on information about child abuse claims against a man who had contact with children across a number of government agencies. LATEST >>
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- How much Tasmania’s state politicians are paid
- ‘Airlocked’ Ruby Princess passengers allowed home
- ‘Why isn’t our community worth this sort of investment’
POLICE Minister Mark Shelton did not alert other ministers about a paedophile nurse who had contact with children across a series of government agencies.
Opposition members have described Mr Shelton’s decision not to share the information as “a shocking abrogation of his responsibility”.
The Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister stonewalled a series of questions about his response to finding out about paedophilia allegations against nurse James Geoffrey Griffin.
He repeatedly said the matter was one for a Commission of Inquiry, which was announced on Monday by Premier Peter Gutwein and will begin hearings next year.
Griffin, 69, of Legana, was charged with more than a dozen offences relating to crimes against children as young as 11.
He had worked at the Launceston General Hospital since 2001, and had also held positions at the Ashley Detention Centre, on the Spirit of Tasmania with the ambulance service and at local sporting clubs.
Budget estimates committee hearings have heard the first of a series of complaints against Griffin was made to police on May 1 last year and an investigation followed.
Child pornography was found in his possession on July 19.
Health Minister Sarah Courtney became aware of the claims on July 31 — when
Griffin’s Working with Children accreditation was revoked.
Mr Shelton told the committee he was verbally informed of the allegations against Griffin on August 23 but didn’t tell anyone else.
He refused to say who told him: “As these matters are to be examined by a Commission of Inquiry. I will not add further to the discussion,” he said.
Griffin was charged with a series of offences on September 3 and October 3.
But Minister Elise Archer, Roger Jaesnch and Jeremy Rockliff — who oversaw agencies in which Griffin had been involved — only became aware through media reports on October 8 last year.
Griffin died on October 18 after taking a cocktail of prescription medication.
During this morning’s hearings, Labor’s Michelle O’Byrne grilled Mr Shelton about his response.
“Were other government agencies or other entities advised at that time, under your premise that if you believe you need to keep people safe, that you would have that conversation?” she asked.
Mr Shelton responded to opposition questioning with variations of the response: “I am not going to prejudice the investigation of the commission of inquiry.”
Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said she could not understand why a minister aware of serious allegations of sexual abuse would not warn other relevant ministers so they could take action.
“Why wouldn’t another minister of the Crown inform them of the charges so they could look at the records of that man, investigate who he had been around, his working conditions and seek to take appropriate steps?
“Why are serious charges of sexual abuse not enough for you to pay due diligence to the protection of children?
Mr Shelton replied: “Thank you for the question. But as I have already stated I know these matters will be examined by the Commission of Inquiry and I do not intend to add to the discussion,” he said.
“That is a shocking abrogation of your responsibility as Minister of Police,” Ms Woodruff replied.
“The Commission of Inquiry will sort these questions out,” Mr Shelton said.
Police Commissioner Darren Hine also said he would not discuss the case.
“I won’t discuss the individual case because there is now a Commission of Inquiry. We will certainly co-operate with the Commission of Inquiry.
He would not say on what date the investigation into Griffin concluded.
“I am not going to go into the specifics. I am not going to comment on a specific case.”
PAEDOPHILE NURSE’S OVERSEER RELOCATED TO NEW POSITION
NOVEMBER 24, 6PM
The nurse in charge of the ward where an accused paedophile worked is moving to another position, it has been revealed.
A Department of Health memo issued on Tuesday informed staff of a new Acting Nurse Unit Manager for Launceston General Hospital’s Ward 4K.
Claims against nurse James Geoffrey Griffin, who worked in the paediatric unit will be examined by a Commission of Inquiry announced by Premier Peter Gutwein on Monday.
Griffin, 69, of Legana, was charged with more than a dozen offences last October relating to crimes against children as young as 11.
He had worked in Paediatric Unit attached to Launceston Hospital since 2001.
Griffin died soon after being charged after taking a dangerous cocktail of drugs.
Longtime nurse unit manager Sonja Leonard is taking leave before moving to another position, the memo said.
“As advised to 4K staff last week, Sonja Leonard will be taking leave from 21 November 2020 and then be moving to a new position in the Department of Health,” the memo said.
“Judy Parish has agreed to take the acting role as the Nurse unit Manager for 4K,” commencing today.”
Ms Leonard’s new position was not revealed. She is expected to be one of the witnesses called by the Commission of Inquiry, which will run for 12 months from early next year.
‘BROAD’ POWERS FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE COMMISSION
ESTIMATES, TUESDAY, 11AM:
THE Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse in Tasmanian government agencies will have all the powers it needs to conduct a thorough investigation, Premier Peter Gutwein says.
Mr Gutwein was questioned about the inquiry by Legislative Council member Meg Webb in parliamentary budget estimates committee in Hobart on Tuesday.
Ms Webb said Tasmania’s only other Commission of Inquiry, into the 1991 shooting of Vietnam veteran Joe Gilewicz which was held in 2000, was hampered by not having sufficient powers.
She said a 2003 review highlighted shortcomings with the Commissions of Inquiry Act.
Mr Gutwein said he would ensure the Commissioner had the powers needed to do the job.
“I’ll take advice from whoever the Commissioner is,” he said.
“I think it would be reasonable to say that while I understand broadly the powers of a Commission of Inquiry and I’ve looked at the Act in recent days myself, but I’m certainly not a student of the Act.
“I’m happy to take some advice on those recommendations from 2003. To be frank, it’s the first time that matter has been raised with me.
“If the Act itself is not adequate and the Commissioner were to raise those concerns with me then obviously I would consider them.
Mr Gutwein said he would be happy to share with Parliament any concerns the Commissioner, once appointed, might raise about the issue.
“This is a Commission of Inquiry. We’re looking to shine sunlight light on the challenges
“In terms of matters that might be raised with me by commissioner, I think that the public should be aware of them.”
Mr Gutwein on Monday announced a 12-month Commission of Inquiry would start in the new year.
Extra responsibilities for ferry service provider
ESTIMATES, MONDAY:
COMPANIES wanting to conduct the trial to operate a passenger ferry service on the Derwent River will need to work with local government to put infrastructure in place to get people on and off.
There is currently no terminal infrastructure on the Eastern Shore and Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson told a Budget Estimates hearing on Monday, those tendering for the contract to conduct a one-year ferry trial would need to work with the Clarence Council.
“We have asked council to work with bidders about connecting ferry infrastructure. It could be a floating pontoon but the council will need to talk to bidders about what they need,” Department of State Growth officials said.
Mr Ferguson also revealed a new Kingborough to Hobart bus service will be soon be trialled using 10 leased vehicles to get more people from that municipality into the city via public transport.
Metro Tasmania will lease eight buses as it explores the demand for the new service while Tassie Link will lease two.
If the service is deemed viable, the companies will be able to buy the vehicles for a discounted price, Mr Ferguson said.
It was also confirmed Tasmania’s diesel public bus fleet will be replaced with electric vehicles depending on a results of upcoming trials in the state’s north and south.
Mr Ferguson told the hearing he wanted to see the state’s public transport switch to an electric fleet in “the fullness of time” but the focus now was on getting trials underway.
Metro Tasmania will complete a business case before trials start in two years time.
“The buses will need to be electric but they could be hydrogen electric based on the availability of that technology,” Mr Ferguson said.
Three feasibility studies into large scale hydrogen projects in Tasmania are underway with two at Bell Bay and one at Port Latta being considered.
The moves to convert the State’s 220-bus Metro bus fleet with electric models – which Mr Ferguson guaranteed would be manufactured in Wynyard – follows news the government car fleet would soon be electric.
Mr Ferguson also told Budget Estimates that strengthening works being carried out Hobart’s Tasman Bridge would push its life expectancy of 50 years.
No planning to replace the bridge is yet underway but Mr Ferguson quipping it would be an infrastructure headache for a future government, not his.
“But it has a remaining life span, after those strengthening works and the replacement of bike and walking tracks, till 2070,” Mr Ferguson said.
The Commonwealth has come up with half of the $130m needed to carry out the bridge works.
‘We chased him’: How Glenorchy recruited a favourite son
A favourite Glenorchy son has returned to the nest just in time for the 2025 season. Read how it came about.
Run home: Key players in race for CTPL Women’s finals
There is just three rounds to go in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League women’s competition before the big dance with the season expected to finish on a grand final preview.