Jacqui Lambie blows up on national TV in wild rant about child sex abuse case in Tasmania

Senator Jacqui Lambie has exploded in a live TV interview over the mishandling of an alleged child sexual abuse case that tore a family apart.

A single mother in Tasmania claimed her intellectually disabled nine-year-old girl was set upon by an older boy on multiple occasions at their school and on the driveway of her family home.

Her brother, who also suffers from an intellectual disability, allegedly witnessed one of the attacks.

The mother said about a month after disclosing the abuse to the school, police and family paediatrician, the alleged attacker was returned to the school while her kids were placed in online learning.

Her traumatised children were then offered counselling and a free pass to the local zoo – something Senator Lambie says is a disgrace particularly given Tasmania is holding a commission of inquiry into government responses to child sexual abuse.

‘I would like someone from the State Government to intervene here and at least make a phone call to this mother,’ she told the ABC in a fiery rant blasting state officials. 

‘You all know who she is in those departments, I know you do. What is stopping you? Where is your courage?

‘Not one phone call from the education minister’s office or the premier’s or the deputy premier’s to even see, ‘What can we do for you?’

‘Why does it take me to come onto TV to absolutely blow this up in your face before you get off your butts and do anything? This is enough.’

The outspoken Tasmanian said the failure to take any action over the alleged abuse, which was dropped by police, could put other children in immense danger.

‘I’ve got a nine-year-old girl out there who has probably had her life destroyed. How many other young girls at that school have had their lives destroyed?’ Senator Lambie said. 

‘This boy is now in grade six and I want to know if he has abused any more children at that school before he goes off to high school. 

‘I can only pray – and I say this to you premier – that nobody at that school since July, since you’ve known about this and your education minister, has been touched at that school.’

Tasmania in March launched a commission of inquiry into government responses to child sexual abuse.

‘The hypocrisy at this point in time when you are doing a commission of inquiry into this exact sort of behaviour that is going on in Tasmania, and yet six months later we still have no answers,’ Senator Lambie said.

Back in March, Tasmania launched a commission of inquiry into government responses to child sexual abuse. Pictured: Jacqui Lambie in the Senate

To make matters more heartbreaking for the mother of the alleged victim, she was forced to quit her job to homeschool her children. 

She is now struggling to make ends meet and on the brink of losing her home.

‘None of the departments are doing anything whatsoever. She is now running out of money and about to become homeless, Senator Lambie said.

‘It is absolutely shocking considering here in Tasmania we have a commission of inquiry going on about sexual abuse with our children.’