The steady drumming of accountability is growing louder. If you know of cover-ups of child sexual abuse in Tasmanian institutions such as Tasmania Police, now is the time to come forward. You can choose to be anonymous or give your information in strictest confidence!

Email Jay, producer of the Podcast, “Badge of Betrayal” – Podshape@proton.me

This podcast focuses on unanswered questions surrounding Tasmania Police’s handling of paedophile cop, Paul Beau Reynolds. The Weiss Inquiry found that Reynolds abused at least 52 boys over his 38-year career with Tasmania Police. When Reynolds died by suicide in 2018 he was given a full Police Funeral with Honour Guard, despite Police knowing that he was a serial paedophile. Most of his victims were young AFL players in clubs across Northern Tasmania. NTFA Board Directors knew of his offending, but the Weiss Inquiry found that they failed to report these allegations to Tasmania Police. AFL Tasmania nor the NTFA has ever publicly apologised for their catastrophic failings in their duty of care.

COI Commissioner Leah Bromfield speaks of the second nationwide wave of institutional betrayal, but she is wrong in the case of Tasmania. This is in fact the first wave uninterrupted.

In the New Year, Tasmanians will be once again confronted with the reality that institutions like Tasmania Police continue to engage in practices that fail to prioritise the safety and well-being of children when receiving credible allegations of child sexual abuse.

This is particularly worrying given the commitment of the Government to learn from the findings of the Commission Of Inquiry and ensure that the safety and well-being of children will prevail over institutional interests and the reputations of institutional leaders.

With serving Tasmania Police coming forward with allegations of ongoing cover-ups, now is the time for you to come forward with any information. It is time that we all make a stand in support of children and vulnerable people.

Tasmania Police is the senior Government Agency, and all others look to the lead of Police when allegations of Child Sexual Abuse are received. If there is indeed systemic corruption in Tasmania Police as whistleblowers allege, then it must be addressed with the utmost urgency by way of a Commission of Inquiry.

Those reporting the sexual abuse of a child should not be characterised by institutional leaders as “whistleblowers” for discharging their professional and moral responsibilities. Institutional leaders who either deliberately or passively enable sex offenders need to go!

Email Jay, producer of the Podcast, “Badge of Betrayal” – Podshape@proton.me .