The Governor has appointed the Hon Robert Benjamin AM SC as Tasmania’s first Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor.
The creation of a Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor was recommendation 22.11 of the Commission of Inquiry.
About the role
The Implementation Monitor will track and report on the recommendations of the:
- Commission of Inquiry
- Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
- Independent Inquiry into the Tasmanian Department of Education's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
- Child Safe Governance Review of the Launceston General Hospital and Human Resources.
The Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor Act 2024 also allows the Independent Monitor to oversee recommendations from future reports, if the Minister or Parliament agree.
The Implementation Monitor will develop and publish a monitoring and evaluation framework to guide their work. They will publish a report by 30 September each year on the progress of each recommendation.
Mr Robert Benjamin
About Mr Benjamin
Mr Benjamin was admitted as a lawyer in 1975 and practised in family law and child protection. He was appointed as a judge of the Family Court of Australia in 2005. In 2021 he was appointed a Commissioner of the Tasmanian Commission of Inquiry.
Mr Benjamin has knowledge and experience in the area of child sexual abuse, as well as various forms of dispute resolution.
At the time of his appointment Mr Benjamin said, “In this new role, I will work with government agencies and departments to oversee the implementation of the recommendations.”
“I will listen to children and survivors, making sure their voices guide the reform process. While my desire is to work constructively with government, I will not hesitate to hold institutions accountable if progress falters.”
Mr Benjamin’s appointment is for a period of 5 years. Work is underway to fill other roles within the office to support him in this important role.