Tasmanian Response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

The Tasmanian Government acknowledges the courage of people affected by institutional child sexual abuse who shared their stories with the Royal Commission.

The Royal Commission has highlighted the failings of the past and provided institutions with a body of work that will help us to protect our community’s most vulnerable from the impacts of abuse.

The Royal Commission

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was established in response to allegations of sexual abuse of children in institutional contexts.

It ran for five years and heard from thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse in institutional settings, as well as family members, carers, supporters and more.

The Commissioners made more than 400 recommendations aimed at making institutions safer for children that are detailed in the Royal Commission’s Final Report Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

The Tasmanian Response

Tasmania has engaged — and continues to engage — with the recommendations of the Royal Commission in a number of ways.

Like other states and territories, Tasmania takes part in the National Redress Scheme, which provides support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

The Tasmanian Government has also undertaken a number of significant law reforms as a result of the recommendations of the Royal Commission.

This includes:

How does this relate to The Commission of Inquiry?

The Tasmanian Government’s work to advance the recommendations of the Royal Commission is distinct from the Commission of Inquiry.

The Commission is independent of the Tasmanian Government.

It is equivalent to a royal commission and has the power to call witnesses at its hearings and compel the production of documents, including from the Tasmanian Government.

The Royal Commission Unit within the Department of Justice includes people supporting the Commission of Inquiry process.

You can find out more on the Commission of Inquiry website.

Progress reports

2023

2022

2021

2020

2018-2019

Last updated: 17 June 2026