Media Release: Ferguson Must Answer for Inaction on Paul Reynolds Child Abuse Allegations

Ferguson Must Answer for Inaction on Paul Reynolds Child Abuse Allegations

19 March 2024

Independent for Nelson Meg Webb today called for Michael Ferguson to be held to account for his failure to act after receiving a formal Ministerial briefing note outlining the allegations of child sex abuse against the then-deceased police officer Paul Reynolds.

“I am horrified by Mr Ferguson’s continual attempts to gaslight the victims/survivors and the broader Tasmanian community with his evasive and belittling responses to this critical matter,” Ms Webb said.

“The Commission of Inquiry shocked the community with its exposure of Tasmania’s shameful culture of turning a blind eye to allegations of child abuse by those working on behalf of the state, with many asking how did that culture eventuate and thrive.

“The slippery refusal to take responsibility that we are now seeing from Mr Ferguson on such a critical matter is an example of that institutional turning a blind eye.

“While he may wish to avoid scrutiny during an election campaign, Mr Ferguson has serious questions to answer on his apparent lack of action as the responsible Minister when he first learned in 2018 of the alleged crimes of Paul Reynolds.

“Mr Ferguson’s excuses on ABC radio that action was being taken because two independent investigations were underway are misleading and slippery.

“One of those was an internal police Professional Standards investigation that closed when Reynolds died, so went no further, the other was the coronial investigation, which was specifically looking at the cause of Reynolds death.

“Mr Ferguson knows neither of those two inquiries completed investigations into the alleged crimes of Paul Reynolds, the circumstances that allowed his alleged offending over decades as a serving police officer, nor the decision to provide a police funeral with honour guard.”

Ms Webb said regardless of whether Mr Ferguson saw the Ministerial briefing note on Paul Reynolds before or after the police funeral, it is clear he failed to act on it and that is a damning indictment of his performance and suitability to be a Minister.

“It is virtually impossible to believe that Minister Ferguson’s office did not immediately bring a briefing note of such sensitivity and consequence to the Minister’s attention.

“If he did see it beforehand and allowed the police funeral to proceed, he failed to act appropriately according to his duty as a Minister.

“If Mr Ferguson did not see the briefing note until three weeks later on the date he signed it, it appears he apparently did nothing further at that point, and so failed to act appropriately and transparently as a Minister.”

Ms Webb said Mr Ferguson has deeply concerning questions to answer on his lack of action, including:

• When did Mr Ferguson first sight the Ministerial briefing note? Prior to Mr Reynolds funeral or three weeks later on the date he signed it?
• Did he ask for an explanation from the then-Police Commissioner on how a police funeral with honour guard was provided to an alleged child sex abuser, the subject of investigation by Tasmania Police?
• Did he initiate any kind of review or investigation into how a police funeral with honour guard was granted under those circumstances?
• Given Mr Ferguson says he agrees with the current Commissioner that it was inappropriate for a police funeral to have been provided to Reynolds – was that his view five years ago when he read the briefing note in September/October 2018? If not, when did he form that view?
• Knowing the allegations against Reynolds were about long-standing behaviours, and that specific investigation of his alleged crimes was closed after his death, did Mr Ferguson initiate any form of investigation into how a serving police officer may have remained undetected as a child sex abuser over such a long period and whether there were any failures of oversight or process within the department that allowed it to occur?  
• Noting the Tasmanian Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings was established in March 2021, two and half years after Mr Ferguson signed that briefing note and became aware of allegations against Paul Reynolds, as responsible Minister why did he not take any action to look into the circumstances within the police department at the earliest opportunity in 2018?
• Did Mr Ferguson inform the then-Premier of the revelations contained about Paul Reynolds in the 2018 briefing note? Was it discussed in Cabinet?
• Did he discuss with the Premier or Cabinet the problematic implications of the State providing a full police funeral to an officer under active investigation for child sex abuse?  And if not, why not?

“Tasmanians should expect the highest standards of integrity, honesty and accountability from those who serve as Ministers. It is vital that Michael Ferguson take responsibility for his actions and is fully forthcoming on these concerning questions.”

Ms Webb also noted that the current independent review into matters surrounding Paul Reynolds, being conducted by Regina Weiss, was established by the current Police Commissioner Donna Adams.