The Commission

The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings was established on 15 March 2021 by Order (PDF, 478.7 KB) of the Governor of Tasmania.

Under its terms of reference (PDF, 191.1 KB), the Commission’s inquiry will focus on the adequacy and appropriateness of the Tasmanian Government’s current responses to allegations and incidents of child sexual abuse in institutional contexts.

The Commission will submit its report and recommendations to the Governor of Tasmania by 31 August 2022.

Read more about the scope and focus of the inquiry.

Opening hearing – 26 October 2021

The Commission will hold its opening hearing on Tuesday 26 October 2021 at 10:00am AEDT.

The hearing will be held at the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, 38 Barrack Street, Hobart, and will be recorded and live-streamed to the Commission’s website.

Members of the public and media are invited to attend.

The opening hearing will provide an opportunity for the Commissioners to give an update of the Commission’s progress and an overview of the next stages of the inquiry. The Commissioners will also hear from Counsel Assisting, Maree Norton, who will speak on behalf of other Counsel, Rachel Ellyard, Elizabeth Bennett and Alexandra Darcey.

Share your experience and ideas with the Commission

Victim-survivors, their supporters and other people who wish to provide information directly to a Commissioner can register to attend a session with a Commissioner.

Sessions will allow people to speak directly with a Commissioner about their experience and any views they may have about what needs to change to prevent child sexual abuse and improve responses to, and reporting of, abuse in institutional settings.