Media Release – External Independent Review Required to Resolve Outstanding Questions Raised by Commission of Inquiry Report
External Independent Review Required to Resolve Outstanding Questions Raised by Commission of Inquiry Report
Wednesday, 1 November 2023
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb reiterated her call for an external independent reviewer to be appointed to investigate outstanding matters arising from the Commission of Inquiry into the government’s response to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.
“I welcome the Premier’s formal response this morning to some of the matters and questions I raised on the parliamentary public record Tuesday evening, however serious questions still remain,” Ms Webb said.
“This illustrates the very point I made that a suitably qualified external and independent reviewer is required to assess the outstanding matters raised by the Commission’s Report, including the extent the state’s ‘interpretation’ of section 18 of the Act made it ‘impossible’ for the Commission to make the findings it may otherwise have done, and the unresolved matter of the 30 section 18 notices sent to 22 individuals.
“I raised serious questions based on a publicly tabled report, I did not make allegations against individuals or entities but in the public interest called for clarity surrounding how and why they were referenced as they were in the report. As I stated at the time, those individuals deserve that clarity be provided and independently verified.
“All elected representatives should be held accountable for their actions, which includes myself, and I stand by my clear statement of Tuesday that clarity was required surrounding those referenced in the Commission’s Final Report’s notes
“I said during my Tuesday Adjournment contribution that I did not take that step lightly but I have a responsibility to do my job, particularly in pursuing clarification of matters that impact so many people such as this, no matter how uncomfortable that may be for myself or government,” Ms Webb said.
