Tim Carmody is the head of Queensland's Child Protection Inquiry. Source: The Courier-Mail
THE Carmody Inquiry into Child Protection has taken an odd twist with the Commissioner sending off a letter to the Attorney-General today seeking to widen his terms of reference.
Commissioner Tim Carmody has written to Jarrod Bleijie seeking to widen the scope of the inquiry to better investigate what is broadly known as the Heiner Affair.
Mr Carmody, under section 3(E) of his terms of reference, has a duty to examine the adequacy of government responses into historic allegations of child sexual abuse in state-run youth institutions.
It's been suggested inside the inquiry that the effect of that section could stop Mr Carmody hearing evidence about the Heiner Affair.
Heiner relates to a 1989 inquiry run by now deceased magistrate Noel Heiner examining allegations of mismanagement at the old John Oxley Youth Detention Centre.
The incoming Goss Government shredded documents related to Heiner amid fears the inquiry was improperly constituted and the material could lead to defamation action.
Whistle blower Kevin Lindeberg has made allegations the material shredded contained allegations of child abuse.
But, after hearing from 135 witnesses and admitting 248 exhibits, the inquiry has heard little evidence suggesting the Heiner Inquiry related to child abuse.
That lack of evidence could effectively preclude Mr Carmody from further investigating the shredding, which the inquiry has heard may have been inappropriate or illegal.
In an apparent attempt to continue the investigation into Heiner, Mr Carmody has asked that 3 (E) be widened to allow him to look into government responses to both allegations of child abuse and industrial disputes at youth detentions centres.
The Government is yet to respond, but it is believed the request will be granted.
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