State Government to seek reimbursement of legal fees

The Tasmanian Government will seek reimbursement of legal assistance provided to State Service Employees who appeared before the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s responses to child sexual abuse in institutional settings.

The Government has accepted all the recommendations of the Tatarka review into the payment of legal assistance to officers appearing before the Commission.

The review considered if any of the current or former State Servants who received grants of legal assistance during the Commission of Inquiry should be asked to repay those funds because they did not comply with the policy or did not act in good faith.

The Review found of the 27 individuals who received independent legal assistance:

• 15 were found to have acted appropriately, with no action required.
• 2 could be asked to repay grants totalling $19,745.
• 1 individual should be required to repay $56,430.14.

The Government will seek repayment of legal assistance fees from all three individuals.

The independent reviewer is still working to complete recommendations for 9 individuals.

“I have instructed the Department of Justice to commence the process to recover public monies from people who did not comply with the policy or who did not act in good faith,” the Attorney-General said.

Note: Guidance for media on reporting matters related to child abuse can be found on the National Office for Child Safey’s website, at www.childsafety.gov.au/resources/reporting-child-sexual-abuse.