Four-year delay to enact key legislation for child sex abuse, Rockcliff’s powerful statement in support of sexual abuse survivors
Legislation to enact key recommendations made by the federal Royal Commission into child sexual abuse might not be in force in Tasmania for years. WHY >>
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LEGISLATION to enact key recommendations made by the federal Royal Commission into child sexual abuse might not be in force in Tasmania for years, the commission of inquiry has heard.
But the heads of two government departments have denied the state was not giving enough priority to ensuring child safety.
Department of Justice Secretary Ginna Webster told the commission critical legislation had been hampered by “miscommunication” and was being redrafted.
“We’re hoping to have a revised Bill shortly, certainly by the end of the year,” she said.
Counsel assisting the commission Elizabeth Bennett, SC, asked Ms Webster whether the enactment of the child safety standards was in the works, four years on.
“You haven’t taken the first step. Is that right?” she asked.
“No, we haven’t,” came the reply.
“So as we sit here, four years after the recommendation, you’re not able to tell the commission about the timeline for the implementation of that key recommendation?” Ms Bennett asked.
“I’m unable to give you a time frame. That’s right,” Ms Webster said.
Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Jenny Gale – also the head of the state service in Tasmania – denied child safety was not a high enough priority of the Tasmanian government.
“Practically we can’t do everything at once,” she said.
She said the failure to place a high enough emphasis on child safety principles was a deficiency of the state’s employment disciplinary processes.
Four years after they were handed down, 195 of the 400 recommendations of the federal Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse have been enacted in Tasmania and 90 are being progressed, the government says.
Ms Gale said that as the head of the public service, she had no role in the implementation of the recommendations, which she said fell to the Department of Justice.
‘Be heard’: Premier’s powerful message of support for survivors
PREMIER Jeremy Rockliff has made a powerful statement of support for those who come forward to give evidence to the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.
In his first question time since taking the top job, the new Premier says his government wants to make sure that victim-survivors are heard and supported.
The Commission started public hearings on Monday.
Responding to a question from the opposition, Mr Rockliff said he was committed to openness and transparency and accountability — and to implementing the recommendations of the Commission.
“There could not be a more important topic and matter for discussion than that of protecting our children and young people from child sexual abuse or any form of abuse,” he said.
“That is why we set up the Commission of Inquiry.
“It is important that we not only listen to survivors of child sexual abuse but importantly ensure they have the confidence to bring forward their voice in the first place and be heard.’
Mr Rockliff agreed that governments had fallen short — and pledged to do better.
“We can only acknowledge the failures of all governments of all colours for decades to ensure that we learn from those failures moving forward, which is why we have set up the commission of inquiry, where we do move forward to ensure that the systems we have in place, that we have improved upon, and that we will need to continue to improve upon.
“Despite all the work that our Government has done in recent years, led by our Attorney-General, I am sure there are still gaps.
“We will have no hesitation in ensuring that those gaps are addressed, and the recommendations of the commission of inquiry are implemented.”
And Mr Rockliff said he met at the weekend with victim-survivors at the weekend, fulfilling a pledge made by former Premier Peter Gutwein.
“Questions were put to me around ensuring that people felt safe to bring forward their lived experiences, as traumatic as they are,” he said.
“I provided those assurances at what was an incredibly insightful, heartfelt and meaningful meeting and discussion that I had over the weekend. So, I give that commitment.
We need to take any barrier away to ensure that our victim and survivors come forward with safety, detailing as traumatic it is their lived experience, and also have the confidence that when they bring those traumatic experiences forward that this Government will of course implement those recommendations in full from the commission of inquiry report.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor welcomed the Premier’s words.
“That’s what victims survivors needed to hear a clear, unequivocal message from the new Premier, that he will make sure that the Commission of Inquiries recommendations are implemented and the Tasmania will be a safer place for children and young people,” she said.
MP accused of personal attack against deputy Premier in cabinet leak
LABOR claims the new Liberal cabinet has sprung a leak, with the opposition allegedly the beneficiary of two juicy snippets of insider information.
Opposition leader Rebecca White had a curiously specific question for Attorney-General Elise Archer in Question Time on Wednesday which, if true, could only have come from a particularly well-placed source.
Ms Archer declared her candidacy for the deputy leadership of the Liberal in the recent leadership ballot, but ultimately didn’t stand and Mr Ferguson was elected unopposed.
“Can you confirm that you called the Deputy Premier, Michael Ferguson, ‘treacherous’, and much worse that I cannot repeat, in a meeting where he said he would be standing as the deputy following the resignation of premier, Peter Gutwein,” she asked.
“How can you perform your ministerial responsibilities if your relationship with the Treasurer has completely broken down?
Ms Archer said she did not know what Ms White was referring to.
“I can say, absolutely, that I have not said that,” she said.
“I can unequivocally state that I did not say that about my good friend and colleague, Mr Ferguson.
“We have a strong united team unlike those opposite who we still do not know what they stand for and we have the same old failed leader.”
Later in Question Time Ms White asked whether the government had plans to appoint the former Premier’s chief of staff Andrew Finch to head the bid for a new $750m AFL stadium on the Regatta Grounds an the state’s other major sporting venues.
Mr Rockliff did not rule out such a plan.
“Mr Finch, the former premier’s Chief of Staff is currently on leave as he was seconded from the State Service to Ministerial and Parliamentary Service,” Mr Rockliff said.
“He will be returning to the State Service. As a government we are looking at options in relation to a suitable position in line with his employment contract.”
Minister Nic Street condemned Labor’s Question Time tactics.
“The disgraceful personal attack tactics from the Opposition today are disappointing but unsurprising as they reflect the toxic environment more broadly in the Labor Party,” he said.
Parliament hears Mac Point Development Corp bullying claims
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has not ruled out a plum job for the former Premier’s chief of staff.
Labor asked whether the government has plans to appoint the former Premier’s chief of staff Andrew Finch as the head of the state’s new authority in charge of the state’s major sporting venues.
Mr Rockliff did not rule out such a plan.
“Mr Finch is currently on leave as he was seconded from the state service,” he said.
“He will be returning to the state service. As a government, we are looking at options in relation to a suitable position in line with his employment contract.
“I want to make sure Mr Finchs’ skills are well utilised within the state service.”
Claims of workplace bullying at the Macquarie Point Development Corporation are being managed by the government-owned businesses’ board, Premier Jeremy Rockliff says.
Independent Member for Clark Kristie Johnston raised the claims during Question Time in state parliament on Wednesday morning.
“The Macquarie Point Development Corporation is by any measure a failure,” she said.
“There’s no development, the Mona vision is dead, there is nothing to support the northern transport corridor.
“The workplace culture is appalling, with multiple serious cases of bullying and high staff turnover, and disturbingly, there are questions about financial transparency.
“After nearly ten years, all we have to show for the tens of millions of dollars invested is a herb garden and a car park.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he was aware of the bullying claims and said they were being looked into.
“Of course, I’m aware of concerns within the workplace,” he said.
“I’m advised the chair of the board of course, the widely experienced and respected Mr [Brian] Scullin is managing the situation with assistance and guidance of Department of State Growth.
“It is important for these concerns to be addressed and resolved through, as you’d appreciate.
“I’m sure proper process which is occurring and of course, I won’t be commenting further on the matter.”
‘Exercise in propaganda’: Greens push Dorothy Dixer question Ban – Parliament May 3
A Greens bid to ban the asking of “Dorothy Dixer” questions in state parliament has narrowly failed.
Party leader Cassy O’Connor moved a motion to ban the government from using question
time to ask itself questions.
Easy questions from government backbenchers to ministers consume a large proportion of Question Time each time parliament sits.
“It doesn’t pass the decency test, it doesn’t pass the fairness test or the transparency test,” Mr O’Connor said.
“They’ve turned Question Time into an exercise in propaganda that wastes about a third of question time.”
Independent MP Kristie Johnston said time dedicated to parliamentary scrutiny was instead being devoted to allowing the government to read out media releases about its own achievements.
“Give us the opportunity to ask questions, to hold the government to account on behalf of our constituents,” she said.
A vote on the motion tied ten-all and was rejected by the Speaker Mark Shelton using his casting vote.
11.30am:
PREMIER Jeremy Rockliff has addressed the parliament for the first time since being sworn into his new job.
In his speech to the House of Assembly after taking the job, Mr Rockliff announced his ministry to the parliament.
Mr Rockliff said it was an honour to serve.
“I’m honoured by the trust and confidence shown by the members of the parliamentary Liberal Party to confirm me as the leader,” he said.
“My whole team remains committed to our long term plan for the state. I can assure all Tasmanians that we hold the utmost conviction to serve them at the highest possible standard.”
Labor’s Dean Winter said the beginning of the second session of parliament so far this term signalled the government was in a mess.
He described the government as “tired”, “chaotic” and “underperforming”.
“We’ve had 40 days without parliamentary scrutiny.
“We’ve had another day today without Question Times without the Premier accepting responsibility in answering questions on behalf of the Tasmanian people.
“They don’t even have any aspiration left. The aspiration’s gone.
“One year into this four year term of government all they’ve got left is a husk.”
11.15am:
The newest member of parliament has been sworn in after the House of Assembly resumed after a long break.
Simon Wood was declared elected as the member for Bass following the resignation of Premier Peter Gutwein last month.
Mr Wood is a former member of the Launceston City Council and a political staffer.
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