Media Release: Tatarka Review

Tatarka Review

25 September 2025

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today welcomed the tabling of the Tatarka Review.

Ms Webb said the review was the Report of the Independent Review of Grants of Legal Assistance Under Employment Direction 16 to Public Officers Appearing before the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings, by Sam Tatarka OAM.

“The Tatarka Review, while disappointing in some areas, has confirmed two things,” Ms Webb said.

“One: the extent to which the state supported public sector workers being investigated by the Commission of Inquiry for serious wrongdoing

“And two: the importance of rigorous terms of reference if governments are serious about securing fully just outcomes for those seeking to expose wrongdoing.”

Ms Webb said the fact one senior State Public Servant had huge legal fees of close to half a million dollars paid by the taxpayer indicates the Commission of Inquiry felt the need to look closely at them.

“Many Tasmanians will understandably consider payments such as this with consternation and anger.

“It was community outrage at an apparent lack of tangible accountability delivered through the Commission of Inquiry which prompted the Government to commission the Tatarka Review.

“Despite the few recommendations in this update for some repayment of publicly-funded legal fees, the remaining large payments to senior state servants will be galling for many.”

Ms Webb said Mr Tatarka’s work continues.

“However, this instalment does confirm people’s concerns that State employees received such significant tangible support while many victim/survivors or whistleblowers, who put their lives and reputations on the line to expose wrongdoing in the interests of the State’s most vulnerable, have paid such an enormous personal cost.”