As we mark National Child Protection Week, TasCOSS is calling on the Tasmanian Government to urgently refocus and resource its approach to implementing the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.
TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone, said the Commission’s findings laid bare decades of systemic failure, secrecy and inaction, as well as illuminating the courage of victim-survivors, whistleblowers and advocates who demanded accountability and change.
“Their voices must not be lost in political inertia,” Ms Picone said.
“We are now two years on from the Commission delivering its final report and the Tasmanian Government is yet to release the key independent Tatarka review, despite receiving it months ago.
“We urge the Tasmanian Government to provide immediate updates and release the findings of these reports — our community deserves clarity, not secrecy.”
With the first sitting week of the new Tasmanian Parliament underway, TasCOSS urges all political leaders and ministers to recommit to:
- Fully implementing the Commission of Inquiry recommendations.
- Resourcing the reforms with appropriate sustained, long-term investment across government and the community.
- Investing in services focussed on justice, healing and recovery for victim-survivors who have already been harmed.
- Embedding accountability and transparency in all systems that serve children and young people.
- Ensuring the voices and lived experiences of children, young people, victim-survivors and their supporters are actively heard and influence the shaping of reforms.
- Driving cultural change across Tasmania to ensure everyone is equipped to prevent harm and uphold the safety, rights and wellbeing of children and young people.