Glenn: I can explain payments from charity

The payments Sir Owen Glenn allegedly ordered were said to be "not typical'' of a charitable trust. Photo / Dean Purcell

Businessman Sir Owen Glenn has assured his board that he has a "complete answer" to an allegation that he ordered payments out of his charitable foundation to a bloodstock company and his own personal bank account.

Bill Wilson, QC, the former Supreme Court judge who chairs the governance board for the Glenn inquiry into child abuse and domestic violence, said Sir Owen gave the assurance from overseas via Skype when the board met on Thursday.

"The issues relating to the foundation are quite separate from the inquiry," Mr Wilson said.

"Having said that, Sir Owen has said that, contrary to any implication that has been given by looking at one email in isolation, there is a complete answer to any issues that may be raised about the conduct of the foundation, and he is very confident that once the facts are made available the issue will be resolved."

The Internal Affairs Department has said it is investigating payments reported in an email to Sir Owen from former Glenn Family Foundation general manager Peter McGlashan.

Mr McGlashan is reported to have said the payments to Bloodstocks Ltd and Sir Owen's personal account were "not typical" of a charitable trust.

Meanwhile, Glenn inquiry chief executive Kirsten Rei said she was rethinking plans for panels to hear evidence from more family violence survivors.

She said former inquiry director Ruth Herbert focused on domestic violence but the inquiry was initially planned to investigate child abuse.

"We need to rethink who else we need to talk to in terms of focus groups or individuals to balance out that child abuse side."

Ms Rei said that, once it had determined its key questions, the inquiry would seek approval for its remaining work from a health and disability ethics committee.