Article-Premier Refuses to Recuse Government from Commission of Inquiry Report Redaction Process
Article | The Mercury | 23 August 2023; pg 6
Report ‘won’t be watered down’
There will be no change to the government’s planned approach to the Commission of Inquiry final report, despite calls for it to rule
out redactions in the document.
Legislative Council independent Meg Webb has called on the government to forgo its right to make changes to the report after it is
handed to Governor Barbra Baker on August 31.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff told parliament earlier this month that any parts of the report which might undermine the public security,
privacy of personal or financial affairs, or the right of any person to a fair trial, could be redacted.
Mr Rockliff said he was taking a very personal interest in the outcomes of the commission and reassured the public its findings would
be listened to and not watered down.
“I detailed in a very open and transparent way in my ministerial statement the process around that and I’ll leave that statement as it
stands,” he said.
“I want to assure all Tasmanians and all victims and survivors, that we have very deliberately held the Commission of Inquiry to shine
a light on past failures.
“I recognise and again apologise for the trauma and the way that people’s lives have been affected forever around the horrific
circumstances of which vulnerable children found themselves in through no fault of their own.
“I will be walking the journey with them through the Commission of Inquiry, the release of the report, the recommendations, and
importantly, not only shining a light on past failures but ensuring that we have the systems in place, the investments in place, and the
people in place to ensure the safety of our children and young people in the future.”
