Bridget Archer (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I feel compelled to rise to speak on this issue, as we mark the fifth anniversary of the national apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. It also comes at a critical time for my home state of Tasmania, as the state government recently wrapped up its commission of inquiry into child sexual abuse in institutional settings. It is so disappointing to me that, as we stand to acknowledge the fifth anniversary of the national apology, you may be forgiven for thinking that we apologised for things that happened in the past, that don't happen anymore. But these things are happening. They're happening right across our country, and we have seen the most shocking—shocking—evidence presented in the inquiry in Tasmania.

The inquiry examined the responses of government institutions to allegations of child sexual abuse dating back more than 20 years, in out-of-home care, in schools, in hospitals and in other institutions. The 3,500-page report is harrowing, and the commission has put forward 191 recommendations that I'm pleased the Tasmanian government has accepted in full. Although it's difficult to hear, I want to share a story from victim-survivor Tiffany Skeggs, as she told it to ABC Tasmania:

Bouncing onto the outdoor courts on frosty mornings in Launceston, northern Tasmania, the naturally talented netballer was in her element.

After losing her dad in a fatal car accident a few years earlier, Tiffany found happiness on these courts—joy she thought nobody would be able to steal away.

"I would never have perceived that that would be where I met my greatest threat," …

The threat was disguised as an upstanding citizen.

He was a volunteer medic and masseur at the Northern Tasmanian Netball Association, who also worked as a nurse on the children's ward of the Launceston General Hospital.

James Geoffrey Griffin was 58.

Tiffany Skeggs was 11 …

"It was a predator in his playground," Ms Skeggs said.

Ms Skeggs said the sexual abuse started with long hugs and kissing, and quickly escalated.

Sometimes Griffin would pick her up for netball on Saturday mornings, and on the way there he would park his car and molest her.

He also sexually abused her in the first aid room at the netball precinct while he was on duty.

She said the first time she remembers being raped by Griffin was at his home when she was 15 years old.

The abuse occurred regularly, over several years, and at various locations.

According to the brief of evidence given to prosecutors by Tasmania Police, obtained by Ms Skeggs through a Right to Information request, Griffin also took sexually explicit photos of her and sent them to an associate.

He also told that associate about his offending against Ms Skeggs and abused her at parties hosted by associates of his.

Ms Skeggs said she was groomed to believe she was Griffin's only victim, until one day in 2019 she saw him surrounded by children at the netball courts.

"Something in me just clicked," she said.

"I didn't have a choice anymore.

…   …   …

… I as a victim-survivor along with every other victim-survivor out there, deserve answers to the questions that I have asked.

"We deserve to see action taken, we deserve integrity, and we deserve respect."

Following the police report that Ms Skeggs made, Griffin continued to work as a paediatric nurse at the Launceston General Hospital for three months. During that time, four more women contacted Tasmania Police and alleged Griffin had sexually abused them as children, in complaints ranging from the nineties through to 2012. He was charged in September 2019 with multiple child sex offences, including maintaining a sexual relationship with a person under the age of 17, an offence I note has been renamed 'persistent sexual abuse of a child'. Police also found a significant amount of child exploitation material at his home. During a formal interview, he admitted to criminal sexual misconduct and that he had met Ms Skeggs through a local sporting group.

After knowing about the nearly 40 years of abuse that children had suffered at the hands of this man, they let him walk free into the community. An internal review of police actions relating to Griffin found Tasmania Police received four information reports about him, in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. CFS closed the file, and police took no further action. It was really only after reports of this surfaced in the media that action was taken to call the commission of inquiry.

I've met with many victims-survivors since the commission of inquiry was called, and I would like to acknowledge their bravery in coming forward and giving evidence to the commission, particularly Katrina Munting; Azra Beach; Tiffany Skeggs, who I've mentioned; Angelique Knight; Daisy Ford; Benjamin Felton; and Ashley Youth Detention Centre whistleblower Alysha. I think it's important to note that more needs to be done to protect people who come forward to share evidence about abuse when it occurs. I don't think that the whistleblowers who have given evidence in this inquiry have had the protection that they deserve. It is one area I think we need to do more work on if we are going to change the really awful child sexual abuse statistics that we see in Australia.

I'd particularly like to acknowledge the work of Amanda Duncan and her family in honour of her sister, Zoe Duncan, who was abused in the Launceston General Hospital. As a result of that abuse, she later died because she refused to go back to the hospital. After the report was handed down, Amanda said:

People say that Tassie air is some of the purest and freshest in the world, and I feel like I haven't, and my family haven't, been able to experience that fresh air for 22 years since Zoe was abused at the LGH. After hearing what the commissioners had to say today, and in waiting for the final report, I feel like I am able to walk out of this building today and breathe the fresh air for the first time in 22 years.

We have to acknowledge that these reports and recommendations show that abuse is still happening. It is not over for so many victim-survivors who are going through this. There is still so much more work to be done to support victims and survivors and to prevent creating more victim-survivors.

It's important to note that this is not an issue that just exists in institutions. Child sexual abuse exists in every pocket of this country, in homes across the country—in suburbia, in the city and in some of the nicest homes in the nicest streets right across the country—and we have to do more to protect children. It's not enough to just say sorry and to come every year and acknowledge that apology, when those things are still happening right across the country every day. I will spend every day that I have, in this place and beyond, fighting until we can get this changed. I'd like to echo the words of the incredibly brave Tiffany Skeggs, when she said, 'To every child out there, I will fight this battle come hell or high water for you as well.'

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