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Child Abuse


Child, Shadow

State Service Stand Downs Confirm Need for Reform and Investment Now

The 43 state servants who have been stood down points to the significant scale of the culture and harms that led to the establishment of the Commission of Inqui

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  5 Jun 2023


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Rockliff Must Step in on Police Minister’s Politicisation of Child Sexual Abuse

The Liberal candidate for Rumney's cynical attempts to politicise what is one of the most significant bodies of reform Tasmania has seen is revolting

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  1 May 2023


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Commission of Inquiry Extension

The Greens acknowledge and respect the Commission of Inquiry’s request to extend their reporting deadline.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  4 Apr 2023


Child, Shadow

Recognising National Survivors' Day

Today we recognise the pain and honour the courage of all survivors of sexual assault and institutional abuse.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  15 Nov 2022


House of Assembly, Tasmania

Apology to Victim and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

Joining us in Parliament, out on the lawns, over at Elizabeth St Pier & on screens across the country, are Tasmanians - victim survivors & people who love them.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Nov 2022


Child, Shadow

Jaensch's Shameful Secrecy

MinisterRoger Jaensch has refused to answer critical questions in Budget Estimates about staff who are stood down for child sexual abuse matters

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  8 Jun 2022


House of Assembly, Tasmania

Liberals Vote Against Greens’ Push for Ferguson and Archer Apology… Again

Nearly two weeks have passed since Ministers Archer and Ferguson groaned at the words of a victim survivor of child sexual abuse read out in the House.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  23 Mar 2022


Legislation, Clause Being Highlighted

Department of Education - Responses to Child Sexual Abuse - Legal Advice

What advice did you receive that meant you could not release the same full redacted report that was released to the ABC?

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Nov 2021


Bureaucracy, Professional with Paperwork

Department of Education - Responses to Child Sexual Abuse - Release of Report

rofessors Smallbone and McCormack's full report of the inquiry points to a culture of cover up in the Department of Education.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Nov 2021


Parliament House, Tasmania

Health - James Griffin

In budget Estimates last year we asked a number of questions about the James Geoffrey Griffin matter.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  6 Sep 2021


Bureaucracy, Professional with Paperwork

Griffin Management Review - Police Handling of Child Sex Abuse Claims

Clearly there has been a culture in at least parts of Tasmania Police where victims or witnesses reporting sexual abuse have not been taken seriously.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  1 Sep 2021


Prison, Barbed-Wire Fence

Ashley Youth Detention Centre - Allegations of Abuse

In January 2020, management of Ashley Youth Detention Centre were made aware of potential historical rape allegation.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 Mar 2021


Prison, Barbed-Wire Fence

Roger Jaensch: Hapless or Heartless?

In Question Time today, we asked the Minister for Human Services, about two very serious allegations, relating to Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  25 Mar 2021


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Justice Miscellaneous (Commissions of Inquiry) Bill 2021

Behind this amendment bill is so much trauma. I think it is reasonable to say that as a state we have been failing children and young people for decades.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  18 Mar 2021


Police Officers in High Visibility Vests

Tasmania Police - Child Sexual Abuse - James Griffin

The Tasmania Police internal review of police actions in relation to James Griffin is a catalogue of repeated failures.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  2 Mar 2021


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Child Sexual Abuse - State Service Employees - Allegations

So far 14 State Service employees have been stood down over allegations of child sexual abuse.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  2 Mar 2021


Police Officers in High Visibility Vests

Griffin Police Review Reveals Tragedy of Errors

The review by Tasmania Police into the James Geoffrey Griffin investigation reveals a decade long failure to properly investigate serious allegations.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  26 Feb 2021


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Recommendation of President of Commission of Inquiry

The Greens welcome the Gutwein Government’s recommendation of Marcia Neave AO as President of the Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  29 Jan 2021


Lonely Child

Opacity Over Stood Down State Servants Inexcusable

Yet another State Service employee has been stood down in the lead up to the Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  27 Jan 2021


Justice, Scales and Gavel

TT-Line – Child Safety

Former Launceston nurse and alleged paedophile James Griffin worked on the Spirit of Tasmania between October 2003 and January 2009.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Dec 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Commission of Inquiry Recommendations

This inquiry needs tri-partisan backing, so I strongly encourage you to work with Opposition and crossbench parties and members on the terms of reference.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  3 Dec 2020


Royal Hobart Hospital, Emergency Department Entrance

Estimates Reply – Minister Courtney

The purpose of our questions was to understand what the Minister for Health knew and when she knew it, and what the response of the department has been.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  1 Dec 2020


Prison, Barbed-Wire Fence

Estimates Reply – Minister Jaensch

A significant part of the Estimates with Mr Jaensch this year dealt with that terrible, unsafe place that is Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  1 Dec 2020


House of Assembly, Tasmania

LGH Child Abuse Claims - Actions of Police Minister

It took three months after the initial complaint for James Griffin's Working with Vulnerable People registration to be revoked.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  1 Dec 2020


Parliament House, Tasmania

LGH Child Abuse Claims - Actions of Minister

At that point, child exploitation material had been found at Mr Griffin's home, including what the Coroner described as 'self-generated images'.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  1 Dec 2020


Police Officers in High Visibility Vests

LGH Child Abuse Claims - Police Procedures

In July, whilst a CIB became aware that Mr Griffin was employed at the LGH and then at that point made steps to actually brief the hospital at the end of July.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  1 Dec 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Health – Commission of Inquiry

Only a commission of inquiry can properly uncover what has happened and the systemic abuse, as well as the links between different departments.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  23 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Attorney-General and Justice – Commission of Inquiry

The TLRI final report of September 2003 makes five recommendations for legislative amendment of the Commissions of Inquiry Act.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Police, Fire and Emergency Management - James Griffin

The ministers through Estimates this week have confirmed that Ms Courtney, the Minister for Health, first became aware on 31 July 2019.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  26 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Shelton Silent on Child Abuse Allegations

The Police Minister's refusal to answer questions about his inaction in the James Geoffrey Griffin matter is a shameful abrogation of ministerial responsibility

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  26 Nov 2020


Prison, Barbed-Wire Fence

Human Services - Ashley Youth Detention Centre

Twelve months ago, a member of staff at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre found records about the alleged rape in the mid 1990s.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Education – Sexual Abuse Claims

James Griffin had been working between 1986 and 1997 at UTAS as a maintenance officer. That was before he worked at the Launceston General Hospital.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Premier – Commission of Inquiry

We are really only just beginning to scratch the surface of a much deeper wound as it relates to the treatment of children in some places in Tasmania.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  23 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Commission of Inquiry into Child Abuse in State Institutions

The announcement of a Commission of Inquiry into the sexual abuse of children and young people in the care of the State is both welcome and overdue.  

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  23 Nov 2020


Child, Shadow

Safety of Children

The investigation that the Government has established into what happened over an 18 year period in the paediatric ward at the LGH is manifestly inadequate.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  19 Nov 2020


Prison, Barbed-Wire Fence

Ashley Youth Detention Centre - Calls for Closure

The Government ignored the advice in the independent expert Noetic report to close Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  19 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Ashley Youth Detention Centre - Allegations Against Senior Staff Member

We have information that a senior staff member at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre has recently been stood down.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  19 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Launceston General Hospital Allegations

We are just starting to uncover some of the truly heinous things that happened over 18 years that man was on the children's ward at the LGH.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  17 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Commission of Inquiry Must Investigate LGH and Ashley Youth Detention Centre

The Liberals must do right by the children who are, and have been, in government care.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  11 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Ashley Youth Detention Centre - Commission of Inquiry into Child Abuse Claims

The Government's independent investigation has limited terms of reference and focuses on the systems within the Tasmanian Health Service only.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Nov 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Commission of Inquiry into LGH Abuse Needed

The allegations a child sex offender was working as a nurse on the paediatrics ward at the Launceston General Hospital for nearly 20 years are distressing.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  10 Nov 2020


Education, Textbook and Laptop

Greens Welcome Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in State Schools

The Greens welcome the Deputy Premier and Education Minister’s announcement of an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in state schools.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  27 Aug 2020


Child, Shadow

Justice Legislation Amendment (Organisational Liability for Child Abuse) Bill 2019

This bill is a response to the royal commission's Redress and Civil Litigation Report which came out at the end of 2017.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Sep 2019


Lonely Child

Out-of-Home Care Monitoring and Oversight

Out-of-home care in Tasmania remains recklessly unregulated five-and-a-half years after the Liberal Party took government.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  29 Oct 2019


Child, Shadow

Criminal Code and Related Legislation Amendment (Child Abuse) Bill 2018

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse shocked the nation.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 Jul 2019


Child, Shadow

National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2018

Mr Deputy Speaker, it has been a long, traumatic and painful journey to this point.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  28 Aug 2018


Child, Shadow

Catholic Care Funding

Catholic Care, according to its most recent annual report, received more than $7 million in government funding last year.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  21 Jun 2018


Child, Shadow

Mandatory Reporting of Offences of Child Sexual Abuse

​​​​​​​The Catholic Church in Tasmania has vowed to defy law reform that would remove the protections on the confessional.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  21 Jun 2018


Child, Shadow

Royal Commission - National Redress Scheme

Recommendation 88 of the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was that.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  22 May 2018


Child, Shadow

Liberals Must Listen to Survivors and Church Leaders and Commit to National Redress Scheme

While the Liberals drag their heels, Tasmania church leaders have joined forces to call for the State to join the National Child Abuse Redress Scheme.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  13 Apr 2018


Child, Shadow

Greens Commit to Redress Scheme for Victims of Institutional Child Abuse

The Greens are committed to funding the State's contribution to the scheme, estimated at $13 million over the next decade.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Feb 2018


Child, Shadow

Hodgman Must Commit Tasmania to National Redress Scheme

The Turnbull Government today introduced legislation to establish a Commonwealth civil redress scheme for survivors of past abuse in institutional settings.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  26 Oct 2017


Child, Shadow

Hodgman Government Failing Survivors of Past Childhood Sexual Abuse

All States and Territories are expected to commit funding yet there is no allocation in this coming, or any subsequent State Budget year, towards the Scheme.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  4 Jun 2017


Money, Australian Dollars, Notes

Federal Budget Funds Sexual Abuse Redress Scheme, State Must Follow

We hope the Hodgman Liberals will follow their Canberra colleagues’ lead and provide redress funding in the State Budget.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  10 May 2017


Child, Shadow

State Support For National Redress Program Needed

A national redress scheme for victims of institutionalised sexual abuse was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  9 May 2016