Following a front page story in today’s Sydney Morning Herald – reported on by Limelight here – regarding allegations of historic child sex offences against long-time Opera Autralia tenor David Lewis, Opera Australia has shared an official statement issued to staff by CEO Rory Jeffes.

Assuring staff that “Opera Australia takes this matter extremely seriously”, Jeffes writes: “The allegations against David Lewis are now the subject of court proceedings. It is therefore not appropriate for Opera Australia, or any member of the Company, to make any public comments on them as this could prejudice any action.”

David Lewis, Opera AustraliaDavid Lewis. Photograph © Opera AustraliaUpton

In a number of dot points he says that: “Opera Australia was made aware of these allegations in July 2017. Due to the nature of the charges Opera Australia took immediate action to stand David Lewis down and require that he stay away from the workplace. He has not participated in any company activity since then and he is no longer an employee of Opera Australia.”

Jeffes says that “Opera Australia has cooperated fully with the police authorities since they approached the Company and will continue to do so,” adding that there is “no...