Victims of paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith call for more action after review finds he could have been stopped

20 minutes agoMon 8 Dec 2025 at 10:14pm

Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty to more than 300 charges of child sexual abuse over almost two decades. (Supplied/ABC News: Sharon Gordon)

Jane* has been clenching her hands so much she’s left behind fingernail marks.

The inside of her lip is bleeding because she’s bitten it so hard in a raw and visceral reaction to another development in the case of Ashley Paul Griffith.

Warning: This story contains details of child sexual abuse.

She didn’t know a landmark 500-page report examining the systemic failings that enabled the former childcare worker to abuse 69 girls in Brisbane and Italy, would be published on Monday.

Furiously flicking through the report, she becomes distressed. The hardest part to reckon with is that none of the report’s findings or recommendations bring her any closer to justice.

Jane* says she and her daughter are still dealing with ongoing trauma from Griffith’s offending. (ABC News: Eddy Gill)

The report focuses on offending in Queensland, admitting it couldn’t examine issues in NSW because of ongoing legal proceedings.

Despite Griffith having been sentenced to life in prison for Queensland crimes, a further 180 charges relating to 23 alleged victims in Sydney have not been heard in court.

In December last year, Griffith launched an appeal against his minimum non-parole period of 27 years on the basis it was "manifestly excessive".

‘A massive weight’

Jane had been hoping the appeal would be dealt with this year — to bring the matter to a close — but it’s been adjourned until 2026, with no specific date set.

She has been languishing for three years since the Australian Federal Police arrived at her home to inform her they believed her daughter was one of those alleged victims.

But he is yet to face court for those charges — and won’t until proceedings in Queensland are dealt with.

Jane says she feels a "massive weight" and can’t fully focus on her daughter. (ABC News: Eddy Gill)

Normally an offender would have to serve their sentence before any extradition would occur, but the NSW government has applied for a prisoner transfer to bring Griffith to NSW to face those charges sooner. However, that application, if successful, could not occur until his appeal is dealt with.

Even waiting a year has been distressing.

"It’s just like a massive weight sitting over my head, just waiting, and I can’t fully focus on my daughter," she said.

"I am so full of dread for what’s going to happen and that’s not something you can just talk yourself out of.

"Half of my brain is always dreading what’s going to happen next? When is it going to happen, when will my child find out about it, and I just want it to be done so I can focus on the person who means the most to me."

By the end of the day, her joints hurt in her wrist because she has been clenching so much.

She said at times she had nearly vomited — such is the trauma she’s been left to grapple with.

While she said the report was good and made strong recommendations, it was unsurprising.

"It feels like we’re spending time admiring the problem," she said.

"It’s lots of words on a page, they’re the right words, they’re good words, I’m glad everyone’s recognised that these are important things to say.

"The real test is whether there’s any money, any resolution without [questions of] who’s going to own the solution and who’s going to get the credit, like just fix it."

Jane is calling for more action to address weaknesses in the child safety system in the wake of the review. (ABC News: Eddy Gill)

Missed opportunities

The report found there were 18 missed opportunities that could have disrupted or even stopped the abuse, including investigations by police and the early childhood regulator.

In releasing the report, Queensland Family and Child Commission commissioner Luke Twyford said children, parents, colleagues and centre managers had spoken up about Griffith during his 20 years of offending.

"And yet none of that made a difference," he said.

"There is something wrong with our system when so many victims, colleagues and witnesses speak up and yet there is no effective outcome."

A review found many people raised concerns about Griffith during his 20 years of offending. (ABC News: Sharon Gordon)

The commissioner said the recommendations were deliberately broad, and that he wanted governments to take time in responding.

Admitting adopting the recommendations would come at a great cost and a significant effort, Mr Twyford said the commission didn’t want the government to simply adopt them, but to present a holistic response to how they intend to keep children safe.

One of the key recommendations of the report was a call for the state government to ensure the reportable conduct scheme — which will commence in 2026 — will be joined with the blue card system, so the people who receive concerns sit beside the people who decide who is safe to work with children.

For Jane, that recommendation "is critical", but needs to be rolled out nationally.

"I will still advocate for further change, because I don’t think it’s enough actual action yet," she said.

"That’s the only thing that keeps me sane now."

* Names withheld to protect privacy