Media Release: Blake Review Addendum is No Clean Bill of Health

Blake Review Addendum is No Clean Bill of Health

21 June 2024

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said today the release of an Addendum Report to the flawed Blake Review still does not provide the comprehensive clean bill of health claimed by the Rockliff Government.

“The suddenly released unexpected Blake Review Addendum Report vindicates concerns raised about the problematic initial March Report, while raising further questions,” Ms Webb said.

“Significantly, this Addendum document confirms the initial March Report misunderstood a crucial statement by the former Commission of Inquiry. Contrary to that flawed first Report’s assertions,  it cannot be ruled out that the Commission may have made additional specific misconduct findings had it been able to conduct its inquiries without the identified impediments of the Act.

“Further, just as the Addendum states it is supposition as to whether additional misconduct findings may have been made under different procedural or legal circumstances as called for by the Commission, it is equally supposition to assert the Commission would not have delivered more misconduct findings.

“The fact is, due to the narrow scope of this Review, the potential for serious misconduct findings by an unimpeded Commission cannot be ruled out any more than they can be ruled in, or confirmed.  That is the outcome of this Addendum document.

“Confirmation the initial Blake Review Report misunderstood a critical statement by the Commission, means this is not the clean bill of health as touted by the Government.”

Ms Webb also questioned the timing of the Blake Review Report Addendum.

“While I appreciate the effort made by the Reviewer to seek clarification in light of the serious concerns raised about the March Report, the Premier should have announced at the time that additional work was being undertaken given the seriousness of the subject matter.

“It is also very disappointing that the Addendum document dated June 16 was not tabled while Parliament was sitting.

“Instead it is conveniently dropped on a Friday leading into a five week sitting break.

“Victim-survivors, stakeholders and the broader community deserve better than this from the Rockliff government.”