Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has revealed he was a victim of sexual assault as a child.
WARNING: This story contains references to child sexual assault.
Mr Gutwein opened up about the experience publicly for the first time at the end of today's COVID-19 press conference.
A reporter asked Mr Gutwein if he had spoken to ministers accused of groaning following a question by the opposition about the state's Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse in institutional settings.
A victim-survivor was quoted during the question.
Mr Gutwein said he reached out to the person this morning, asked to have a conversation with them and provided "an apology without excuse or explanation".
"I have great empathy for people who are victim-survivors," Mr Gutwein said.
"You'd all be aware I crossed the floor back in 2002 to bring on a Commission of Inquiry that ultimately could've completely derailed my own career.
"I'm the first premier in the state that has taken the steps to have a Commission of Inquiry.
"The reason that I've done that is I have great empathy because I've walked in their shoes.
"When I was a young man, in fact, when I was 16, I was a victim of child sexual assault. It was by a former teacher.
"I was asked to go to their home to have a beer, which I thought was fantastic.
"Whilst I was there, they placed their arm around me and they grabbed for my groin, they tried to get their hand down my pants.
"I was big enough and strong enough to get them off me and to get away.
"I haven't spoken to anyone about the motivations behind why I crossed the floor in 2002, why I feel so passionate about having this Commission of Inquiry and once and for all getting to the bottom of these matters but they are very personal."
Mr Gutwein said he hoped to speak with the person who took offence to the groaning of MPs.
"I hope that she will provide me with her phone number, that I can have a conversation with her because I've walked in her shoes," he said.
"I know what the loss of trust feels like, I know what the shame feels like and I want to get to the bottom of this through this Commission of Inquiry so that once and for all we have a framework moving forward, that parents like me today can be absolutely certain that their children are in the safest possible place when they are in the state's care."
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