Media Release: Has Premier Received Blake Review Report into Commission of Inquiry Unresolved Matters?

April 10, 2024

Has Premier Received Blake Review Report into Commission of Inquiry Unresolved Matters?

10 April 2024

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called on the Premier to disclose whether he has received the final report of the Blake Review into significant unresolved matters raised by the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Response to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.

“The Review of Heads of Agencies identified in the Commission’s Final Report, undertaken by former Tasmanian Auditor-General Mike Blake AM, was due to report to the Premier by March 29, yet no public update has been provided,” Ms Webb said.

“I recognise the disruption of the recent Assembly election, however as presumptive-Premier, Mr Rockliff should confirm immediately whether he did receive the Blake Review final report by the due date of March 29.

“Mr Rockliff must also confirm that the Blake Review Report will be released publicly, and when he intends to make that happen.”

Ms Webb noted the Blake inquiry was one of two established last year after public disquiet surrounding the many serious unanswered questions raised by the Commission of Inquiry.

The Blake Review was to look into matters raised in the Commission of Inquiry in relation to former and current Heads of Agency, and the Woolcott Review is to examine the actions, and the effectiveness of those actions, taken by government agencies and other relevant state authorities in response to the information and concerns raised by the Commission about Tasmanian State Service employees and officers.

“Both the Blake Review and the ongoing Woolcott Review were required due to state government roadblocks which prevented the Commission of Inquiry from fully completing its work – public confidence will not be restored if we see yet more examples of secretive, opaque processes which fail to deliver public accountability,” Ms Webb said.