Reputation and defamation fears may deter childcare abuse reports, Queensland paedophile inquiry finds

Former Queensland childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith, who abused 73 children in his care, has been dubbed Australia’s worst paedophile. Photograph: AAP

Concerns about reputation or legal risks may deter individuals from raising concerns within the childcare sector, a review of the worker dubbed Australia’s worst paedophile has found.

An interim report into Queensland childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith, who was sentenced to life in prison last year for sexually abusing 73 young girls in Brisbane and Italy, also said the state’s system for protecting children from abuse “may result in a false sense of security”.