Commission of Inquiry set to wrap up with final hearing in Hobart on August 30, 2023

The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings will hold its closing hearing in Hobart this morning.

Tasmania's child sexual abuse commission of inquiry is currently sitting in Launceston, examining harm to children that occurred at Launceston General Hospital. Picture: ABC/pool

The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings will hold its closing hearing in Hobart this morning.

Over more than two years of work, the Commission conducted over 150 consultations, received more than 95,000 documents and held nine weeks of hearings.

Commissioners the Honourable Marcia Neave AO, Professor Leah Bromfield and the Honourable Robert Benjamin AM SC will deliver their final statements at 10am today.

The hearing is expected to be packed by victim-survivors, witnesses their supporters and others affected by abuse.

Commission President Marcia Neave said a powerful message had been delivered.

“We are grateful to everyone who has helped us to better understand child sexual abuse in Tasmania, how such abuse may sometimes remain unrecognised or hidden and how calls for help, complaints or other attempts to address abuse have been ignored or met with inadequate responses,” Commissioner Neave said.

“Transparent and coherent mechanisms that enable institutions to prevent, identify, report and respond appropriately when concerns or allegations about child sexual abuse arise, must be embedded in all government institutions that engage with children.”

The Commissioners will deliver the report to the Governor of Tasmania, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC tomorrow afternoon (31 August 2023) at Government House in Hobart.

After that, its work is concluded and the Commission will end.

The report must be tabled in Parliament within 10 parliamentary sitting days.

EARLIER, August 28: The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings will hold its final hearing in Hobart on Wednesday.

Established in March 2021 the Commission has heard evidence from victim-survivors, whistleblowers, carers, child safety experts, senior bureaucrats and others about long-term issues faced by those in a range of state care settings.

Prominent among the evidence has been examination of the state’s bungled response to allegations of abuse at the Launceston General Hospital and at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

It is the first Commission of Inquiry — Tasmania’s equivalent of a Royal Commission — since the inquiry into the police shooting of Joseph Gilewicz in the 1990s.

Commissioners Marcia Neave, Leah Bromfield and Robert Benjamin will deliver the Commission’s closing address at TASCAT in Hobart at 10am on Wednesday. It is expected to run for 45 minutes.

Tasmania's child sexual abuse commission of inquiry is currently sitting in Launceston, examining harm to children that occurred at Launceston General Hospital. Picture: ABC/pool

The hearing will be recorded and available on the Commission’s website afterwards. It is open to the public, although seating will limited

“The Commission acknowledges the end of the Commission and the delivery of its report will be a difficult time for many people,” a spokeswoman for the Commission said.

“External support service information is available on the Commission of Inquiry website and will remain after it concludes.

“The Commissioners will deliver the report to the Governor of Tasmania at Government House on Thursday afternoon.”

The Commission then concludes. The final report must by law be tabled in parliament and made public within ten parliamentary sitting days.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has already delivered an apology to the victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in Tasmanian Government institutions.

And he has given his commitment to implement the recommendations of the Commission’s Final Report once they are available.

Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White at Parliament Lawn. Picture: Chris Kidd

Opposition leader Rebecca White said it was essential that the voices of those who gave evidence to the inquiry was heard.

“It’s so vital that for those people who’ve come forward, provided evidence and really gone through such a traumatic experience that we listen and we hear those experiences and we do something to prevent them from happening again in our government institutions.

A Government spokeswoman said the Commission of Inquiry is managing all arrangements, including the closing hearing, until August 31, 2023.

“Agencies have been working to support individual victim survivors and that may extend to assistance with arrangements for the final hearing if required,” they said.

“The Tasmanian Government acknowledges the strength and resilience of those affected by child sexual abuse.

“We recognise that the release of the [Report] and the period leading up to its release, may evoke strong emotions.

“For this reason, additional specific purpose funding has been provided to make support services available to the community.”