Housing and Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch was grilled over the role of the Commissioner for Children and Young People during the budget estimates hearings on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Appearing before the Legislative Council hearings committee, Mr Jaensch was asked a range of questions on the commissioner vacancy and the turnover of people in the role.
Legislative Council Member Mike Gaffney asked Mr Jaensch why a new commissioner hadn’t been appointed some 10 months after Mark Morrissey had resigned in August last year.
He also wanted to know why the government had difficulty recruiting and retaining commissioners, noting there had been five since 2010.
Mr Jaensch said recruitment had started last year but had been delayed by the election, and the creation of the new Communities Tasmania department. Once the recruitment panel was reconvened, it would report to him on progress.
What's not working as well as it could be, to retain our commissioners?
- MLC Mike Gaffney
Mr Gaffney said the new commissioner would be the fifth since 2010, despite both governments offering three to five-year terms.
“That’s a high turnover in such a significant position. What's not working as well as it could be, to retain our commissioners?,” he said.
Mr Gaffney moved on to quiz Mr Jaensch on the issue of the commissioner’s independence. He said both a previous commissioner and the head of a social services agency had suggested the role was not sufficiently independent.
Commissioner reporting line at issue
“Is the government prepared to listen to that? They are saying for the process to be truly independent, it shouldn’t be going through the government of the day. It should be answering to the parliament,” Mr Gaffney said.
Mr Jaensch said if there were a reporting line issue he would look into it.
Mr Gaffney then asked Mr Jaensch whether the government last year had consulted the commissioner over legislation on the mandatory sentencing of child sex abusers.
“The commissioner said he wasn't even consulted over the legislation. Has there been any consultation this year with the interim commissioner about this bill?”
Mr Jaensch said that process was for the Attorney-General but Mr Gaffney disagreed, saying the commissioner’s functions came under Mr Jaensch’s portfolio.
“You’re talking more about the procedural manner of ensuring consultation and respecting their independence,” Mr Jaensch said.
Leah McBey
As a southern New Zealander I love island life. So Tassie was an obvious choice after living in North America, Europe and the Pacific Islands. I've done a bit of everything but communication is the motif threading through my life.
As a southern New Zealander I love island life. So Tassie was an obvious choice after living in North America, Europe and the Pacific Islands. I've done a bit of everything but communication is the motif threading through my life.
