Media Release: Where are Commission of Inquiry Woolcott and Blake Reviews’ Terms of References?

Where are Woolcott and Blake Reviews’ Terms of References?

14 December 2023

Concerns of secrecy have been raised over the two independent reviews to be undertaken by Peter Woolcott AO and Mike Blake respectively, into the significant unresolved matters raised by the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Response to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings, due to the absence of further details being made public since the Premier’s announcement on the 14^th of November this year.

Independent Member for Nelson, Meg Webb, who drove the call for independent and external inquiries into the unresolved matters arising from the Commission of Inquiry, called on the government to immediately provide updated details and the final terms of references for each review, including how people can make submissions, to ensure information is accessible and transparent.

Ms Webb said she still had reservations over the scope of the reviews and had been in consultation about refining the terms of reference but has not received an update from government regarding the status of those discussions despite numerous requests. 

“Exactly one month ago on the 14^th of November’s commemoration of National Survivors Day, I welcomed the Premier’s announcement of the two independent Woolcott and Blake Reviews, particularly the fact that both assessors could seek submissions,” Ms Webb said.

“Yet it is extremely disturbing that exactly one month since the Premier’s announcement neither the final terms of reference nor any other contact information, can be found publicly on any government website.

“Why are neither Independent Reviews’ terms of reference and contact details clearly provided on either the Department of Premier and Cabinet Home page, or the new Keeping Children Safe website which apparently is the place to go for updates on the government’s response to the Commission of Inquiry?

“The only way to access either terms of reference is to find the Premier’s media release of the day of his announcement and use its embedded links, which is woefully inadequate and risks excluding many affected victims/survivors.

“Basically, if you missed the Premier’s media release of the 14 November, there is a very high chance you remain unaware these reviews are even happening, let alone know where to find anything about them.

“Lets be clear, the Premier had to announce these two independent reviews due to ongoing distress and disquiet amongst victims/survivors and their supporters over the lack of appropriate focus upon, or resolution of, significant matters of concern raised by the Commission.

“This was acknowledged by the fact the initial Woolcott terms of reference attached to the Premier’s media release a month ago states the review, ‘will be conducted in a trauma-informed way, with a clear focus on ensuring that respect for child sexual victim-survivors remains at the centre’.

“How on earth can this secrecy and lack of accessibility be considered trauma-informed or respectful of victim/survivors?

“The Premier must immediately ensure each Independent Review contact details and current terms of reference are clearly and accessibly made available across all appropriate government websites, starting with the Keeping Children Safe site, and also clarify that members of the public can make submissions,” Ms Webb said.

The Blake Review is 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 effectiveness of those actions, by government agencies and other relevant state authorities, taken in response to the information and concerns raised by the Commission about Tasmanian State Service employees and officers.

Ms Webb also noted that neither Terms of Reference were tabled in the Parliament.

Ms Webb’s online search includes:

• A subsequent media release of the Premier, of 6 December 2023, mentions the Woolcott Review but does not provide a link: https://www.premier.tas.gov.au/site_resources_2015/additional_releases/routine-disclosure-on-state-service-employees-published
• DPAC website search:
  Search for Peter Woolcott Review https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/search?queries_keyword_query=Peter+Woolcott+Review identifies a link to the Routine Disclosures page – where the Review is mentioned but no link to ToR or any other information provided: https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/rti/routine_disclosure_log_-_departmental_information

A similar search on the DPAC search function for Mike Blake Review returns 0 results: < https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/search?queries_keyword_query=Mike+Blake+review >

The DPAC Keeping Children Safe webpage makes no mention of either Review: https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/keepingchildrensafe

• Keeping Children Safe website search:

When checking the formal Keeping Children Safe page – which apparently details the actions the Government is taking in light of the CoI – neither review is mentioned let alone ToR provided: https://www.keepingchildrensafe.tas.gov.au/

• Department of Justice website search:

Lists the Review of the TLRI Act: https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/about-us/news/articles/review-into-the-commissions-of-inquiry-act-1995-terms-of-reference

Searches for either the Woolcott or Blake reviews did not return any information.

• Department of Education, Children and Young People

Searches for either the Woolcott or Blake reviews did not return any information.

• Parliament: – it does not appear from a search of the electronic database for tabled Papers in either the Assembly or the Council, that either Woolcott or Blake Terms of References were tabled.