The Tasmanian government will pursue three former state service employees for more than $76,000 in taxpayer-funded legal fees after they were found to have acted improperly during the child sexual abuse commission of inquiry.
An independent review looked at whether 27 people who received government-funded legal help had complied with departmental policy and recommended recovery action.
Attorney-General Guy Barnett said on Thursday the government had accepted all of the Tatarka review’s recommendations.
The review found most witnesses had acted appropriately but identified three who breached policy or failed to act in good faith.
Two individuals will be asked to repay a combined $19,745.
An attempt will be made to claw back $17,915 from Patrick Ryan, the former manager of Ashley Youth Detention Centre and $1,830 from ex-Launceston General Hospital human resources consultant James Bellinger.
Former Launceston General Hospital executive director of medical services Peter Renshaw will be required to repay $56,430.
“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,” Barnett said.
The commission investigated how Tasmanian government agencies responded to allegations of child sexual abuse in institutional settings.
A number of state service employees were given legal assistance to navigate the process, with the government spending a total of $1 million on their behalf.
Of the 27 individuals examined by the review, 15 were cleared of any wrongdoing.
The reviewer is still finalising recommendations for the remaining nine people, meaning the recovery total could rise.
Independent MLC Meg Webb said the disclosure of the payments made was important for transparency.
“Many Tasmanians will understandably consider payments such as this with consternation and anger,” she said.
“Despite the few recommendations in this update for some repayment of publicly-funded legal fees, the remaining large payments to senior state servants will be galling for many.”
