Govt silent on State Service worker suspended over sexual abuse claims

Demands for more information into sexual abuse allegations against a State Service employee revealed by the National Redress Scheme have been shot down by the state government. LATEST >>

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THE government will not say which agency employed a worker accused of child sexual abuse, Premier Peter Gutwein says.

It was revealed on Friday that a government employee from the state’s North was suspended from work on Friday pending an investigation into an historical sexual abuse allegation identified through the National Redress Scheme.

The government has revealed last month that three Ashley Detention Centre workers had been stood down due over abuse allegations.

But Mr Gutwein said that would not be happening in this case.

“What I’ll do is, once again, is just reiterate what the Attorney-General said on the weekend: it is important that we follow due process and the principles of natural justice,” he said.

“A historic allegation of child sexual abuse has been made, that will now be investigated, appropriately the worker has been stood down.

“I made that commitment at Estimates that under these circumstances that we would inform the public, that’s exactly what we’ve done, but there are processes and the principles of natural justice need to take the course.”

“I’m not sure how much more transparent you want us to be other than to pinpoint an agency. “What we’ve made very clear is that we’ve had an allegation of historic child sexual abuse that has been looked into the worker has been stood down.

“And when that occurs in the future, that’s exactly the process that will follow.

The principles of natural justice require that decision-making be free of bias and conflict of interest and that a person has the right to know the nature of accusations against them and be given the opportunity to address them.

Mr Gutwein said that he expected more cases to come to light.

“As part of the national redress scheme, the estimate is that we might see 2000 claims come forward.

“Some of those will be in the for people that are currently working in the public sector, others will be for other institutions.

“It’s important that we have a system moving forward that is robust, that ensures that people are afforded due process and also the principles of natural justice.”

At the weekend Attorney-General Elise Archer also refused to say which agency the worker was employed by.

“It is important to note that being stood down is not an indication of wrongdoing. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty must be upheld,” she said.

A Commission of Inquiry has been announced into allegations of child sexual abuse in multiple government agencies — including the paediatric ward at the Launceston General Hospital.

‘ADDICTED TO SECRECY’: SILENCE ON SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS

CALLS for further information into sexual abuse allegations against a government ­employee have been shot down by the state government.

A State Service staffer has been stood down pending an investigation into a historical sexual abuse allegation identified through the National ­Redress Scheme.

Deputy Labor leader ­Michelle O’Byrne said the government had become so ­“addicted to secrecy” it forgot it had an obligation to the community to communicate what information it could.

“It is very unusual to not at least identify the agency or ­department that this person would have been stood down from,” Ms O’Byrne said.

Michelle O’Byrne MP. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Being transparent is the best way for a government to get through what’s an incredibly difficult time for our ­community.”

Attorney-General and Justice Minister Elise Archer said the Opposition should be “abso­lutely ashamed” for playing politics.

The steps that needed to be taken to stand down the ­employee were completed late Friday, Ms Archer said.

MP Elise Archer. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“As soon as that occurred, a statement was made which contained appropriate information based on advice to ­inform the community but not to prejudice the upcoming ­investigation,” she said.

Labor leader Rebecca White also hit out at the government, saying Sport and Recreation Minister Jane Howlett and Police Minister Mark Shelton had been “dodging important questions” when asked about when sporting groups were made aware paedophile James Griffin was under police investigation.

“Police Minister Shelton has known since August 2019. Sport Minister Howlett’s ­department, along with other government agencies, were ­informed in ­August 2019 that James Griffin’s Working with Vulnerable People registration had been revoked. Why did nobody act?” Ms White said.

Ms Howlett reaffirmed she was not made aware of Mr Griffin’s involvement in netball until October 22.

“Tasmania Police advises that in 2019 ... contact was made with the Northern Tasmanian Netball Association regarding bail conditions associated with Mr Griffin,” she said.

“The NTNA advises that it was informed in 2019 before Mr Griffin’s death that his working with vulnerable people card had been removed.”

Government worker stood down amid sexual abuse claims

A WORKER at Tasmania’s largest employer, the State Service, has been stood down amid sexual abuse allegations.

A government spokeswoman said the government employee from the state’s North was suspended from work on Friday pending an investigation into an historical sexual abuse allegation identified through the National Redress Scheme.

The allegation has been referred to Tasmania Police for investigation, the spokeswoman said.

“Principles of natural justice and other legal considerations demand that further comment is not made whilst the investigation is underway,” she said.

“It is important to note that being stood down is not an indication of wrongdoing. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty must be upheld.”

It comes after Premier Peter Gutwein last week announced a Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse in government institutions.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The government has previously said it had adopted the majority of the 281 relevant recommendations of the Commonwealth Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and had introduced laws to better protect children from abuse.

The Commission of Inquiry announcement follows three staff members from the Ashley Youth Detention Centre being stood down amid hundreds of allegations of abuse — including child rape.

Four matters into claims of sexual abuse of children in government facilities are now being investigated.

Other incidents include claims of abuse within the Education Department and a series of claims made against deceased Launceston General Hospital nurse James Griffin.

In state parliament this week, Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Shelton announced a Tasmania Police review of its investigation into child sexual abuse allegations made against Griffin.

Opposition parties have accused the state government of hiding behind the Commission of Inquiry to avoid answering questions or improving responses to child abuse.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor this week said she was underwhelmed by the performance of Sports Minister Jane Howlett in responding to questions about abuse claims affecting a northern Tasmanian netball organisation.

“There are things that the Tasmanian government can do right now to make sure that children and young people in Tasmania are safer,” Ms O’Connor said.