Parliamentary Scrutiny Sought

Greens Call for Inquiry into Police Handling and Funeral Decision

The Tasmanian Greens will advocate for parliamentary scrutiny regarding the police's handling of child abuse allegations against former officer Paul Reynolds and the decision to grant him a full police funeral.

The Paul Reynolds Case: Allegations and Controversial Funeral

Paul Reynolds died by suicide in 2018, the day after police seized his electronic devices as part of an investigation. Following his death, then-commissioner Darren Hine authorized a full police funeral for Reynolds and delivered an address in his honor. Two days prior to the funeral, Commissioner Hine sent a memo to then-police minister Michael Ferguson detailing some of the allegations against Reynolds.

Weiss Review Uncovers Decades of Abuse and Police Oversight Issues

A 2024 review by former war crimes prosecutor Regina Weiss identified up to 52 male victims of Reynolds over a 30-year period. The review found Reynolds was actively sending explicit messages to at least nine teenage boys up to the day of his death.

The Weiss Review criticized Tasmania Police's response to a 2008 report that referenced Reynolds as a "paedophile." The review indicated that visiting interstate police officers had overheard Tasmanian officers discussing Reynolds as a "paedophile" at the police academy bar. An assistant commissioner later stated there had been a "misinterpretation" and described the allegations as "potentially very damaging … for a person wrongfully accused," leading to no investigation at that time.

Greens Demand Broader Parliamentary Investigation

The Greens expressed criticism regarding the narrow scope of the Weiss Review. This review was commissioned by Commissioner Donna Adams and notably included identifying any misconduct by police officers involved in investigating Reynolds.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff stated that victim-survivors have called for greater scrutiny of child sexual abuse matters, and further information has since emerged.

Woodruff highlighted that the Weiss Review did not allow for a comprehensive examination of how Tasmania Police responded to Reynolds in either 2008 or 2018. She noted that the circumstances around the funeral were excluded from the review's scope, and clarity is still pending regarding who else in police management was aware of these allegations prior to the full honors funeral.

The Greens plan to request that a parliamentary committee examine these "outstanding questions." This committee would have the ability to hold hearings, procure documents, and allow witnesses to speak under parliamentary privilege.

Official Responses

Current Commissioner Donna Adams has apologized on behalf of Tasmania Police for the funeral granted by her predecessor. Police Minister Felix Ellis has also acknowledged that the decision to hold the funeral was incorrect.

Predatory Conduct Detailed

The Weiss Review detailed that Reynolds utilized his respected position in football and basketball communities to groom and sexually abuse teenage boys. This conduct reportedly continued until the time of his death.