Child sex abuse survivor advocates worry government won’t answer why it moved paedophiles

News an inquiry will be held into the state’s horrific legacy of child sex abuse in government schools is a victory for survivors. But advocates fear the biggest question won’t even be raised.

• Pressure builds for answers on Tasmania’s paedophile teachers
• Inquiry announced into sexual abuse in public schools

CHILD sex abuse survivor advocates are celebrating news the state government will finally be grilled over its historic management of alleged paedophile school teachers – but they also fear the most important question of all will remain unasked.

“Teachers (facing child sex allegations) were shunted around from one place to another. Why did they do that?,” Allison Ritchie, former Labor politician and founder of People Protecting Children, said.

“If there’s no intention to do that, this would be a waste of time.”

Allison Ritchie

On Thursday, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff announced an independent inquiry into departmental systems regarding child sexual abuse risk would be held, with details to be revealed over coming weeks.

The announcement follows months of pressure for answers after the Mercury revealed evidence the department had protected at least two teachers facing numerous child sex complaints between the 1970s and 1990s.

Lawyer Sebastian Buscemi, who is representing dozens of historic child sex victims who were abused at the hands of state government employees, is also worried the department won’t be forced to answer why it moved teachers school-to-school amid allegations.

He said the terms of reference seemed to avoid the need to address that question.

“That’s the question they need to address, because that’s the issue,” he said.

“What kind of systemic issues would lead to a teacher being moved around like that?

“It’s one thing to speak about avoiding the wrongs of the past, and it’s another thing to look at the wrongs of the past.”

Sebastian Buscemi. RICHARD JUPE

Documents obtained under Right to Information laws showed now-convicted paedophile teacher Anthony Alan Le Clerc was moved between four North-West schools despite several scandals and complaints.

Likewise, documents revealed the department knew of repeated accusations against now convicted sex offender Darrel George Harington during his 30-year career, but did nothing to stop him.

Ms Ritchie said despite her concerns, Thursday’s announcement was a historic one and a positive step showing the government’s willingness to help survivors find closure.

She said she’d been lobbying various governments since 2002 over a range of child sex abuse issues such as mandatory sentencing and had met with every Tasmanian Attorney-General in that time.

She mentioned tireless campaigner Walter Tusyn, who was abused as a ward of the state in the 1950s and 1960s and who died a decade ago from burns sustained in a house fire.

“A lot of people ignored him. He was a lonely figure walking outside Parliament House with signs,” Ms Ritchie said.

“I really wish he could have been here to see this.”

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