Communities Tasmania was made aware of historic rape allegations against an Ashley Youth Detention Centre worker 12 months before they were stood down from their role, a budget estimates committee has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Greens leader Cassy O'Connor at the hearing said information was passed on to the government about the individual in 2003.
She said a staff member at the detention centre found records of an alleged rape in the mid-1990s which involved the worker 12 months ago.
In other news:
Ms O'Connor said this was reported to Communities Tasmania at the time and again in late August and early September by a legal firm dealing with institutional child sexual abuse redress claims.
She said the worker at the centre of the claims was suspended once the matter generated publicity.
Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch said the matter was being investigated well before it was broadcast through a podcast on paedophile nurse James Griffin.
He said the staff member that raised concern about a fellow Ashley employee 12 months ago did not raise a rape allegation and their concerns were investigated.
Communities Tasmania secretary Mike Pervan said department representatives met with a lawyer who had sought to represent 100 former residents of Ashley.
"He provided a letter which made some very serious allegations, but provided no details and did not name staff members or the alleged victims," he said.
"We sought detail from him so we could pursue an immediate investigation. He would not provide that detail.
"All we were left with was a letter ... that said some spectacularly horrific things, but nothing on which we could pursue an investigation of staff."
Mr Pervan said the lawyer's reluctance to name the staff member and alleged victims meant the department had to do a forensic analysis of staffing records to identify the alleged perpetrator.
Mr Jaensch early in the day told the committee he became aware of child abuse allegations directed at Mr Griffin once they were reported in the media.
He said he only became aware of his link to the Ashley Youth Detention Centre from media inquiries to the government in September.
He said Communities Tasmania had some engagement regarding the allegations before they were brought to his attention.
Department secretary Mike Pervan said the Child Safety Service first became aware of Mr Griffin's sexual offending through a notification from Tasmania Police on August 2, 2019.
What do you think? Send us a letter to the editor:
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
