Nearly two years ago, Jess Hoyle of activist group LGB Tasmania first publicly drew attention to claims that then-mayor Danny Gibson had been declined a Working with Vulnerable People Registration. When Hoyle raised the matter during an LCC public forum, councillors were outraged and quickly shut down the line of questioning. When Hoyle again raised the matter early last year, she was removed from a council meeting.
In the interim, though, it became a matter of record that Gibson’s WWVP was indeed under review and he resigned as mayor – though he still holds a position as a councillor. It further emerged that Launceston ratepayers were footing his legal bills.
Now, documents relating to Gibson’s WWVP Registration have been obtained by the media. The documents show that the Justice Department found that:
On the balance of probabilities, Cr Gibson posed an “unacceptable risk of harm to vulnerable persons,” including children.
The Department of Justice registrar who undertook the risk assessment found Cr Gibson had “allegedly engaged in a pattern of behaviour of a sexual nature toward male victims over a sustained period of time which has caused significant harm to a number of persons within the Tasmanian community including children.”
“I have determined that you pose an unacceptable risk of harm to vulnerable persons generally,” the document read […]
Cr Gibson was issued a warning following the conclusion of his risk assessment that his WWVP registration would be cancelled.
Gibson denies wrongdoing and cited his mental health, from “vile attacks, stemming from media reports” as his reason for resigning.
Cr Gibson, a former Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year, was elected to City of Launceston Council in 2011 and has for years taught drama to young people at the Stage Right Youth Theatre, alongside his local government work.
He was also involved as a director, stage manager or actor in more than a dozen shows for local amateur dramatic company Encore Theatre, which has put on musical theatre productions with large local casts.
It’s through his career in theatre that Gibson is accused of grooming young men.
As part of its risk assessment in 2023, the Department of Justice received a statement from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into Child Sexual Abuse in Tasmania.
It revealed allegations that Cr Gibson had allegedly groomed “two child victims”, aged between 16 and 18 years old.
The registrar stated both alleged victims were members of Encore Theatre Company.
Encore Theatre “allegedly has a widespread culture of sexual harassment and abuse toward young adult and youth male members”, the registrar stated.
Encore Theatre Company, whose president is an ABC journalist, and vice-president a former ABC employee, strongly denies the latter allegation.
“The statement is false and highly defamatory of ETC, its members, and volunteers”.
“It is denied in its entirety.”
Yet, witness statements claim that ETC attempted to force an unnamed person to sign a non-disclosure agreement over what Tasmania Police have referred to as an alleged ‘assault with indecent intent’, involving Gibson and an ETC cast member. The incident in question is described as a persistent groping attempt by Gibson in a taxi ferrying ETC members to an after-party.
The following day it is alleged Cr Gibson sent multiple messages to the alleged victim and others in a group chat on Facebook Messenger.
Cr Gibson allegedly stated, “I think I was a little crazy in the cab. Please forgive me and please don’t say a word lol lol.”
Aside from the alleged victims who’ve gone public to date, Justice Department documents suggest another seven to nine further complainants.
The Department of Justice also examined evidence from various formal statements made by complainants, Tasmania Police, information received from the Department of Education, Children and Young People and information received from Child Safety Services.
A CrimeStoppers report was received by Tasmania Police, outlining multiple allegations from male complainants who claimed they had been groomed by Cr Gibson when they were younger.
The alleged victims claimed this occurred during various theatre rehearsals involving Encore Theatre Company and Stage Right productions.
Yet more allegations concern Gibson’s activities at a local secondary school (in Tasmania, years 11 and 12 continue at separate campuses called ‘colleges’).
The department was also provided with a witness statement from a person who claimed they were aware of a “child victim who was allegedly groomed and sexually harassed by Cr Gibson while attending Launceston College.”
“As a result of this alleged behaviour, Mr Gibson was informally prohibited from Launceston College campus during school hours,” the witness claimed.
Like the council and ETC, the education department is avoiding comment.
In response to the ABC, a spokesperson for the Department of Education, Children and Young People said it is unable to comment on individual matters.
Current Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood has written to Gibson, asking him to resign. Under the Local Government Act, the council is not empowered to remove him.
