Ministerial Statement

CHILDREN IN STATE CARE INQUIRY

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:06): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: In November 2004, the Hon. Ted Mullighan QC, a former justice of the Supreme Court, commenced the Inquiry into Children in State Care. During the course of the inquiry, Commissioner Mullighan took evidence from 792 people who said that they were victims of child sexual abuse and determined that 242 of those people were children in state care at the time of their alleged abuse. On 1 April, I tabled the final report from the inquiry before the house. As I stated when I tabled the report, it chronicles account after account of children robbed not only of their innocence but also of their past, their present and their future. The narratives of the sexual abuse of children make sickening reading for anyone.

Before tabling the report, I met with some survivors of abuse in state care and became acutely aware of the impact that these abhorrent actions have had on their lives, both then and now. I was also told of the massive impact that their experiences had on the lives of those around them. But I was also told that the inquiry itself and the respectful and empathetic way in which Commissioner Mullighan approached the delicate task of getting people to tell their stories was a powerful step in a healing process; in restoring dignity and self-respect to some of the survivors. As one person told me after having lived a life in fear of speaking of his abuse: 'I thought perhaps for the first time in my life someone would be willing to hear my pain.' And so today I will announce the next step in that important healing process.

The first commitment I made on tabling the Mullighan report was that I would move a resolution in parliament making an apology on behalf of the government and the people of South Australia and all previous parliaments and governments of South Australia to those who were abused as children in state care. Over the past two months, the Minister for Families and Communities has consulted with many survivors about the appropriate form of an apology. Heads of churches and other institutions involved in providing care to children in state care in the past also have been consulted.

Today I wish to announce that an apology will be offered on behalf of this parliament and past parliaments on 17 June. The formal apology will be followed by a small ceremony in Old Parliament House to mark the occasion, which will allow leaders of the government, members of parliament and heads of churches and other institutions to come together with the people who experienced that abuse.

The survivors of abuse in care who have made themselves known to government will, of course, be personally invited to witness the apology. Survivors of abuse in state care who seek to be involved may make arrangements to attend through the minister's office.

It is obviously important that this be a bipartisan acknowledgment of the past cases under previous governments of all political persuasions where vulnerable children under state protection have been subject to abuse. I hope that the Leader of the Opposition will join with me both in supporting the making of the apology and in the ceremony afterwards.

For the children whose innocence was so devastatingly taken away from them, an apology is profoundly important. It is fundamental to the restoration of their dignity and self-respect that they understand that we as a government and as a parliament and on behalf of all South Australians are sorry. Quite simply, they are owed an apology.

Only by finally acknowledging this past can we help to ensure that these same mistakes are not repeated in the future, but acknowledging it alone is not enough—we must take steps to ensure that our most vulnerable children are protected. That is why this morning, the government announced the single biggest increase in child protection and alternative care funding in this state's history. Today we announced a further $190.6 million over four years to help keep South Australia's children safe, to intervene early to support families when children are at risk of abuse or neglect and to support the carers of our most vulnerable children.

This funding includes $124.5 million over four years to ensure that children in care are in appropriate accommodation, a key concern of Commissioner Mullighan; $28.2 million over four years on early intervention—to allow families to stay together with the appropriate supports, even in difficult circumstances; $15.6 million to provide extra case workers and carer supports to foster and relative carers; and a further $4.6 million to boost carer payments over and above the average 26 per cent increase we provided in 2007-08. These people, who open their homes and their hearts to abused children, deserve our gratitude and recognition.

We have been rebuilding the child protection system since we got into office and found it failing. We have always taken seriously the need to protect our most vulnerable children. Today's announcement makes clear the strength of our commitment to them.