Victim-survivors say they feel let down by the government’s response to abuse inquiry
A group of victim-survivors has panned the government’s response to the Commission of Inquiry, saying it has been weak and felt like a cover-up. What they said.
Tasmania
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Victim-survivors and whistleblowers who gave evidence to the Commission of Inquiry have panned the government’s response to the final report, saying it has been weak and felt like a cover-up.
Four key witnesses say they feel the response so far was akin to a cover-up — given those responsible for the shocking abuse uncovered in Tasmanian government institutions had not been held to account.
The final report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was handed down in September.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said on Wednesday his government was taking action to deliver all of the Commission of Inquiry’s 191 recommendations, with 83 per cent of the recommendations to be completed by mid-2026, as suggested by the Commission.
“We established the Commission of Inquiry to shine a light on the past 22 years of failings, and it is this government that is delivering the systemic and holistic change to ensure the past is never repeated,” he said.
“The recommendations are being implemented with children and young people at the centre.
”Importantly, every person who has done wrong will be brought to account. I have made this commitment and I will not rest until it is delivered.”
But victim-survivor Keelie McMahon said, after the harrowing experience of giving evidence, she was disappointed by the government’s response so far.
“As survivors, this was meant to be our time to rest, recuperate, rebuild our lives, but instead we are still fighting a battle that no human should ever have to fight,” she said.
“We are fighting against a government who puts a stadium, new hotels, fancy new logos for businesses designed to exploit taxpayer’s money, above the safety and future of the most vulnerable people in Tasmania, our children.”
Azra Beach gave evidence of her experience in out-of-home care in the 1990s. She said she felt like there had been a “monstrous cover-up”.
“This has been the darkest chapter of my life. If I really think about what I’ve lost as a result of doing this, it wasn’t worth it,” she said.
“I had to dig up my trauma and relive it, in order to see accountability and justice — and safeguard other children.
“The people running this state need to hang their heads in shame.
“I have lost my ability to feel joy, hope, I don’t want to celebrate Christmas, I just want to turn back time, and never put my trust in the Government to handle the Commission of Inquiry right.”
Victim-survivor Katrina Munting said she too felt decisive action had been lacking against those whose acts or failures to act resulted in children being harmed.
“We have not only relived the trauma of our past, we’ve spoken the unspeakable parts of our lives privately with the Commissioners and publicly in the hearings.
“We have opened our hearts to the Commissioners and bared the darkest parts of our souls to the Commission process, and all for what?
“Yes, we have been heard, the horrors exposed; however, there has been no real accountability from the government.
“Yes, the apologies and acknowledgments have been important but it needs to go so much further than this – true accountability is what we need.”
She said it was hard to expect the cultural change required to prevent further abuse to take place when it was being led by some of the people who were in senior roles when previous failures occurred.
Former Clinical Practice Consultant Alysha Rose blew the whistle on horrific abuse at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. She is devastated at the government response.
“We did our bit. The Commission did their bit. You did not do yours, and we are now collateral damage,” she said.
“I do not believe that we have seen any evidence of a government or a head of state service, willing to put accountability and child safety ahead of politics, self-interest and protecting senior bureaucrats.
She said there has been “ongoing obfuscation and dishonesty occurring in a deeply distressing manner”.
“I do not believe that the right foundations have been laid to ensure the implementation of the COI’s recommendations are implemented effectively.”
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