Mob man's fate hangs over historic abuse inquiry
Wednesday, 11 September 2019
A Royal Commission of Inquiry into historic State abuse is facing fresh controversy as a key member of an expert advisory group threatens to walk away if high-profile gang member Harry Tam is sacked.
Albie Epere, a Black Power kingpin and member of the commission appointed survivor's advisory group , said Tam was a vital link to the gangs, whose members were disproportionately reflected in the numbers of those who suffered abuse in state care.
'The majority of the survivors they're trying to reach are in hard to reach places. And those hard to reach places, 80 per cent of it are the gangs.
'They've got to have a gang strategy; and now that Harry's not there they're not going to have a gang strategy.'
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Tam was stood down as a director of policy and research after an inquiry was ordered into allegations a female state abuse survivor had safety fears, while other female survivors expressed concerns because of gang involvement in the process.
Tam's former partner, Charlotte Mildon, also went to the commission in May alleging he used standover tactics against her in a dispute over their separation.
Tam had previously been issued with a police safety order to stay away from Mildon for three days after a domestic incident reported to police in July 2017.
Tam has an historic conviction for domestic violence. The 25-year-old conviction was public knowledge, as it had been well publicised, and it was disclosed to the commission ahead of his appointment.
It has now emerged that Mildon also has a conviction for violence, and was convicted and jailed for manslaughter in Australia under a different name. The crime happened more than 30 years ago.
Stuff understands she was one of three people charged with manslaughter over a man being bludgeoned to death. A fourth person was charged with murder.
When contacted by Stuff Mildon said she did not want to comment publicly about the crime and did not seem its relevance.
Epere said if Tam was not reinstated 'I'm walking'.
Several other members of the survivors group have also expressed disquiet about the handling of allegations against Tam. It is understood there is a mediation hearing on Thursday.
Epere revealed growing frustration with the Royal Commission of Inquiry, which was set up after years of pressure from victims of State abuse.
Epere said the commission was not working for the victims.
'The commissioners have made this royal commission about them; it's not about survivors. We still don't know what processes they have in place for the survivors. Actually I really don't even know what's going on. Honestly. We're sitting here in the background…when are we doing anything? What are we actually doing here?'
Epere said he gave the commissioners a 'bit of a rark up' at their last meeting and wasn't sure if he wanted to return.
'To me they're just wasting a whole lot of money; having these meetings and they don't know what they're about.'
Kath Coster, who is also on the survivors group, said she could not comment on the specific allegations against Tam. But things had 'turned to custard' since he was stood down.
'The general consensus on the advisory panel is that Harry has always done right by everybody.'
Coster also expressed disquiet at the direction of the commission, including a concern that the focus had moved too far away from historic abuse to more contemporary cases, including complaints of faith based, or church, abuse.
'A lot of the focus has been taken off the historic side of it… which is frustrating especially for the State people on the panel…. there are a lot of people who are relying on historic information to come to the surface. '
There was also a sense of frustration at the pace of the inquiry.
'All we want to do as an advisory panel is get out there and have the truth come to the surface.
There's a panel of 18 people who've been waiting months to get out there and do things; it's never happened …it's been a battle right from the start.
'It's very disheartening…it feels like you're banging your head against a wall.'
There is hope, however, that hearings due to begin later this month will get the process back on track.
Thousands of survivors are expected to tell their stories of abuse during the Commission hearings in a process that is likely to be harrowing.
Survivor Toni Jarvis said he was upset at suggestions that Tam had used his position on the commission to hand pick members of the survivors advisory panel.
That was not true and the panel was signed off by the commissioners.
He said it was him who had encouraged Tam to apply for the role at the commission because of his outreach work with gangs.
They needed someone with his skills to reach survivors who would otherwise be hard to reach.
'They're in gangs, in jails and on the streets; they're everywhere.'
A commission spokeswoman acknowledged there had been hiccups with the survivor advisory group but these were being ironed out and they had been providing valuable advice to the inquiry.
It was the first such Survivor Advisory Group in the world so setting up something so new was complex.
The aim of the inquiry was to recommend changes to the systems that enabled children, young people and vulnerable adults to be taken into care and abused and look at the ramifications of that abuse.
There was potential for serious changes as a result. But it was important that survivors weren't put off talking to the inquiry as it was important it speak to as many as possible.
She confirmed that the independent investigation against Tam was due to be resolved soon.