Tasmania's children's commissioner has joined calls for the state government to reveal more details about where 13 state service employees stood down over sexual assault or misconduct allegations worked.
Since November 19 last year, 13 employees have been stood down across the state, with the vast majority in the north.
The government did disclose the areas of employment for the first five — three from the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, a teacher from a northern school, and a Statewide Mental Health Service employee, who was stood down pending the outcome of criminal proceedings related to child sexual abuse not related to their work.
Since then, the government has refused to provide any details about where the employees worked, other than their geographical location.
In response to Labor criticism this week, the Attorney-General Elise Archer also revealed a Tasmanian Health Service employee was stood down over historical allegations in January.
Children's commissioner Leanne McLean told ABC Radio Hobart that parents want to know more, and it would be reasonable for the government to provide that detail.
The children's commissioner is notified when employees are stood down from Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
Ms McLean said she had not been provided with any legal advice the government was relying on.
"Clearly the government have taken advice on what they can and can't share. I am assuming … there is a legal basis for that," she said.
"That is the only reason why you would not share more information that I could possibly think of."
Child protection advocate Allison Ritchie has previously called for more information to be provided by the government.
"While investigations are going on certainly the government should be able to identify the department involved even potentially the agency, down to that level, and what stage the investigation's at," she said late last month.
The Tasmanian Opposition have called the lack of detail an "unacceptable level of secrecy," and the Greens have said the "opacity is inexcusable."
Commission start date not yet clear
Late last year the Tasmanian government announced a Commission of Inquiry into the Responses of Tasmanian Government Institutions to Child Sexual Abuse.
It came after three separate investigations related to child sexual abuse were established across three different Tasmanian government departments.
The investigations covered child sexual abuse in Tasmanian government schools, the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, and the health department over the case of alleged paedophile James Griffin, who worked on the children's ward at the Launceston General Hospital for years.
In January the government recommended Marcia Neave AO be appointed as the president of the commission.
It is not yet clear when the commission of inquiry will begin.
In a statement, a Tasmanian government spokesperson said: "While we acknowledge the commissioner for children and young people's personal opinion, we will not ignore the strong legal advice we have received that says no further comment can be made on these matters."
