Motions

National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

Ms LUETHEN (King) (12:37): I move:

That this house—

(a) acknowledges the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse is held on 22 October 2021;

(b) acknowledges the lasting trauma and damage caused to the victims and survivors of institutional child sex abuse, as well as their families and all those affected by abuse; and

(c) acknowledges the federal and state Liberal governments for their commitment and progress to provide justice to those who have suffered abuse and their action to prevent future harm to children.

This motion recognises 22 October as the third anniversary of the National Apology for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. I have a dream that together we will create the safest state for children to grow up in. This is critical because every child has an essence and a gift for the world, and each child deserves to realise that gift and a full future.

On 21 October 2021 the Morrison government announced that the Blue Knot Foundation, along with its key partners, the Australian Childhood Foundation and the Healing Foundation, would establish and deliver the National Centre for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. This action is a direct response to a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The national centre will shine a national lens on preventing child sexual abuse, improve outcomes for survivors and increase awareness and understanding of the impacts of abuse. The Minister for Families and Social Services, Anne Ruston, said:

Although we cannot take away the pain and suffering that many Australians have experienced, delivering the National Centre is one more critical step to alleviate further traumatisation of those living with the legacy of past child sexual abuse.

The Blue Knot Foundation will draw on the expertise of businesses, the sector, and the invaluable knowledge of victims and survivors to inform improved primary prevention, secondary support and tertiary intervention.

I welcome the news that the national centre is expected to be established by the end of 2021. I thank the minister, Anne Ruston, who has led this outcome. I thank her for her ongoing fight to ensure that survivors receive the redress they deserve.

In South Australia, the national apology three years ago coincided with the day that the Marshall Liberal government implemented new, improved child safety legislation for South Australia. South Australia's new child protection legislation formally embeds the voice of the child into everything we do in South Australia. This was an important step, given the royal commission's finding that children who experience sexual abuse face significant barriers to seeking help. We need to provide pathways and education enabling children to speak up if they are unsafe. I thank the Minister for Child Protection for successfully implementing this change.

We teach children today not to run with scissors, we teach them how to swim, we teach children to be sun safe, we teach children how to cross the road safely, and now we must commit to teaching children how to keep safe from sexual predators. One in five children will be sexually abused and over 90 per cent by someone they know and trust. This is outrageous. We should not be letting this happen. This is why I am obsessed with more effectively teaching the Keeping Safe curriculum in every school in South Australia. Every child deserves to have the knowledge and language to speak up when someone abuses them, and they need to have the resources in place so that they will be heard.

Today, I am going to share the voice of one more survivor to ensure every person who listens to me speak can feel with compassion the impact of this crime and understand why child sexual abuse must stop. The survivor story I wish to share today is about a very gentle, caring, brave and unyielding child sexual abuse survivor, Brian Cherrie. I am inspired by Brian. Brian has given me permission to share part of his statement to the royal commission into institutional child sexual abuse. Brian's statement:

I was born in Western Australia and I pieced together some of my early childhood when I was in my fifties. I now know that my mother was a struggling single working parent. I believe my father didn't have much to do with me.

I was privately adopted when I was 2 years old. We moved to Victoria when I was about seven years old.

My adoptive mother was physically and emotionally abusive and ran me down at every opportunity.

My adoptive father was also sadistically cruel and used to frequently physically assault me.

At 10 years of age, I was left at the Children's Court and admitted to the care of the Children's Welfare Department in Melbourne as an 'uncontrollable child' and made a Ward of the State.

At the age of eleven I was placed in the Box Hill Boys' Home which was run by the Salvation Army.

The sexual assaults occurred regularly over a period of time. I can't recall exactly how many times I was assaulted or the exact period during which I was assaulted.

I recalled that I had also suffered abuse by another staff member of the Salvation Army Box Hill Boys' Home who was known to me as Black Willie but whose real name I believe to be Bill Willemsen. I had previously not recalled this incident. Willemsen molested me whilst I was in the 'treatment room'.

Black Willie was also an employee of the Salvation Army.

He worked in the Home looking after the boys. He was also given the 'rank' of Sergeant.

I remember that the Box Hill Boys' Home was full of violence and I remember always being cold and hungry.

When I was 17 or 18, I attempted suicide by taking pills and attempting to jump from a second storey balcony in a block of flats where I lived in Prahran.

I was treated at the Alfred Hospital. The doctors saved my life. I believe this suicide attempt was directly related to my childhood sexual abuse.

I had had a difficult childhood both before and after the Box Hill Boys' Home but the sexual abuse had damaged me in ways I can't describe.

As a young man I felt that I carried a terrible guilty secret. I was scared that people would find out.

I worried that people would think it was my fault. I didn't feel that I could tell anyone, not even the doctors who had saved my life. I was scared that they would think less of me if they knew that I had been the victim of sexual abuse.

I was scared that they might think that I would do the same thing to another child.

I was ashamed of myself—that this had happened to me.

I had no doubt that they would have blamed me in some way for the abuse.

I didn't think anyone would understand how completely I was in the control of the monsters who were meant to 'care' for me. I still feel scarred for life.

Thank you, Brian. Today, Brian runs a Facebook support group for about 2,800 members, many of them survivors, and helps them work out how to get redress. Today, he is still fighting every day for survivors' rights. Brian told me yesterday that after 56 years he has been told he is receiving a payout for his suffering, hopefully in a week's time. I do ask: why is this process taking so long for survivors?

The National Redress Scheme was developed in response to the recommendations by the commonwealth Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and allows for those who have experienced abuse to apply for redress. It began on 1 July 2018 and will run for 10 years, so applications can be made anytime before 30 June 2027.

I got involved in politics because I was horrified and appalled at South Australia's long list of actionless inquiries and reviews with regard to child protection under the 16 years of Labor. These reviews include the Layton review, the Select Committee on Families SA, the Mullighan Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry, the Mullighan APY lands inquiry, the Debelle inquiry, the Hyde review, the Chloe Valentine coronial inquest, the Nyland report and the national Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2017.

Our Marshall Liberal government are focused on actions not words and not just inquiries. Sexual abuse is not a historical problem. We only need to look at the recent reports of wilful blindness and destruction of records reported to take place in Tasmania. In South Australia, since March 2018 the Marshall Liberal government have provided stronger working with children checks and mandated notification laws to include religious confessions. We are creating stronger child-safe environments and improving experiences in out-of-home care, delivering on strategies to further grow the number of placements for children in family-based care and providing additional funding for early intervention policy and programs.

I am proud that the Marshall Liberal government introduced a range of reforms on 21 August. Our new legislation addresses a number of issues highlighted by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. I thank the Attorney-General for these key reforms proposed, which include:

a new offence of failing to protect a child from sexual abuse in an institutional context or in out-of-home care where there is knowledge of a substantial risk;

requiring audiovisual recordings of interviews with victims of sexual abuse which may alleviate the need for them to attend court;

making it less confronting for victim/survivors to give evidence in court by allowing child sexual abuse victims and domestic abuse victims to give evidence in pre-trial hearings without a defendant present; and

clarifying that confessional privilege cannot be relied upon in either criminal or civil proceedings relating to child sexual abuse.

These reforms aim to better protect our children and punish those who will turn a blind eye to these unforgivable crimes. I have a dream that together in this place we will create the safest state for children to grow up in.

If you have listened and you need support, please call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. I am here for you too.

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (12:48): First of all, thank you very much to the member for King for her words, for her commitment to this issue, and also thank you to the person who so courageously shared their story. In rising, I indicate that I will move an amendment, which I will detail in the course of my discussion.

I rise today to speak to this motion and in doing so I wholeheartedly acknowledge the anniversary of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, which was marked again last week on 22 October. In doing so, I acknowledge and offer my deep gratitude to former Prime Minister the Hon. Julia Gillard for her exemplary leadership and her courage—leadership and courage that saw her drive the establishment of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. This then led to recommendations about actions to better protect children and the initial step of this important national apology.

In speaking about this anniversary, above all else I acknowledge those extraordinary, brave survivors, their families and the many groups and organisations supporting them and advocating for change. I say that I am so sorry for the pain, the trauma and the horror you experienced that in so many circumstances continues to impact your lives, and state again that I will do anything within my power to prevent harm towards children.

Preventing harm against children is indeed every parliamentarian's and every person's responsibility, and any action, acknowledgement or motion should reflect that through the demonstration of bipartisanship in the words contained in and thoughts behind any such motion in this parliament. Instead, we have a government that seems to be using this opportunity, regardless of the topic, to ingratiate themselves when, in reality, the record shows that this government has failed in various crucial aspects of child protection. I move an amendment to this motion to take partisanship out of its content. I move as follows:

After the word 'the' in paragraph (a), insert the words 'anniversary of the'

In paragraph (c), remove the word 'the' and replace it with the word 'successive' and remove the word 'Liberal'

Insert new paragraph—

(d) commits to doing all that it can to prevent and end the abuse of children.

I urge those opposite to support this amendment and, by doing so, demonstrate their commitment to together acknowledging the apology to those brave survivors, so many of whom continue to deal with pain and trauma.

In thinking about this motion today my mind and my heart went to all survivors and those who have passed who dealt with horrific abuse. Amongst those survivors is the incredible Australian of the Year, Grace Tame. When I heard her speech on becoming Australian of the Year, and every single one of the many times I have read and heard her words since, I have been inspired to continue to do what I can to ensure that the voices of survivors are heard. In that speech Grace said, amongst other inspiring words:

This year and beyond my focus is on empowering survivors and education as a primary means of prevention. It starts with conversation…

Lived experience informs structural and social change. When we share, we heal.

Yes, discussion of child sexual abuse is uncomfortable. But nothing is more uncomfortable than the abuse itself. So let us redirect this discomfort to where it belongs: at the feet of perpetrators of these crimes.

Together we can redefine what it means to be a survivor. Together we can end child sexual abuse; survivors be proud, our voices are changing history…

When I first reported, I was shamed and ridiculed by some. But now my truth is helping to reconnect us…

I remember him saying, 'Don't tell anybody.' I remember him saying, 'Don't make a sound.'

Well hear me now. Using my voice, amongst a growing chorus of voices that will not be silenced.

Let's make some noise, Australia.

Brilliant words from a brilliant, brave woman, words we must heed. If we are to live up to our promises in this place to do whatever we can to prevent childhood sexual abuse we must listen to survivors and we must do whatever we can to empower their voices.

I was utterly dismayed this week to learn that Prime Minister Scott Morrison is not. Just in the last few days, in an interview with the ABC it was revealed that Grace Tame, this trailblazing leader who is changing our national conversation, is not aware of nor involved at all in the drafting of the National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse. It is a travesty that the Australian of the Year's courageous, articulate, strong calls to hear us have been ignored by the Prime Minister of this country. It is shameful that this state government also refuses to act to fix the growing child protection crisis in South Australia.

This motion importantly, crucially, recognises past and lasting trauma and damage and acknowledges the apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. It must also acknowledge the amount of work that is still needing to be done to ensure harm towards children is prevented. Every South Australian child deserves to be safe, cared for, supported and empowered to physically, mentally, emotionally and socially thrive.

I feel sad every single day that this government is letting down the most vulnerable children. How can this government prevent harm when we see a minister not knowing that children in care were living with paedophiles, were abused, raped and pregnant? This same minister was described by Judge Rice in his damning report as having overseen significant failure.

This significant failure was shown again just last week when our South Australian community was once again saddened to hear another example of the minister failing to protect a child in her care from being targeted online through a dating app, transported to a predator's house and sexually abused. An Adelaide court shockingly heard last week that 39-year-old Richard Squires, who was charged with the horrific offence, organised for the 16 year old, who was under guardianship, to be transported to his house. In a statement written by the 16 year old, which was read to court, the child indicated, 'I feel the world is not a safe place for minors.'

It is shameful that under the watch of the government harm against children is not prevented. We must ensure that children, whether in the care of the minister or not, in institutional settings or not, online or not, are always protected. We cannot allow a minister who has a record of not even being aware of children in her care being groomed online and abused to continue to have responsibility for the protection of South Australia's most vulnerable children.

This is the same minister who is currently overseeing record numbers of children in care, including skyrocketing numbers of Aboriginal children in care; a staffing crisis in residential care homes; upset and frustration from carers, families, workers and organisations; and the stalling of the Children and Young People (Safety) (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill.

In moving this amendment to the motion, I am requesting the mover to remove the self-aggrandising reference within it. The reality is that on every single indicator this government is not progressing action to prevent future harm to children. More than 10,000 child protection cases that may have needed further investigation closed without any follow-up or action in the past 10 months. The Department for Child Protection received approximately 31,800 reports from July 2020 to April 2021, but we understand did not follow up on 10,460—or around 33 per cent—of them.

The Guardian for Children and Young People's call to this government to fund a visitor program for children in residential care has been ignored and, whilst the member for King is absolutely right that apologies are a crucial part of the healing process, it is the subsequent actions that are also of crucial importance to survivors. Whilst the recent announcement of a National Centre for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse is welcome, it fulfils a promise made three years ago and unfortunately comes on the back of the troubled implementation—

Time expired.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (12:58): I rise to speak on this motion in support of the existing motion. I would just like to state how offensive and deeply disturbing the remarks made by the member for Reynell are—personal attacks, completely ignoring Labor's record. How many front pages did we have under the Labor government, with Jay Weatherill even just recently in InDaily admitting he got it wrong? He got it wrong very badly. Shannon McCoole was employed by the former Labor government despite the red flags that showed up on his psychometric testing. When complaints made against him were ignored—

Mr Boyer interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON: The former Labor government has a shameful, shameful record on child protection, which is why the Liberal government—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. R. SANDERSON: —have appointed the first ever dedicated Minister for Child Protection.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R. SANDERSON: We are making significant changes to the child protection system, and I take great offence at the words of the member for Reynell. I think it is an absolute disgrace.

Ms HILDYARD: On a point of order—

The Hon. R. SANDERSON: On one hand, she wants bipartisanship and then she unloads a load of rubbish—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The minister will now seek leave to continue her remarks.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON: I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Reynell, you had a point of order?

Ms HILDYARD: Yes, 125. I certainly take great offence to the comments from the member for Unley, which I heard as, 'You're all paedophiles.'

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Well, I did not hear that, member for Reynell.

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni: I didn't say that. I didn't say it.

Ms HILDYARD: As I said, that is what I heard. If there is something else, clarify.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes.

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni: I can't respond to something I didn't say.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Unley is saying that he did not say that. I must admit there was a lot of banter right across the chamber, which is out of order of course, when I was trying to listen to the Minister for Child Protection, who has just as much right to speak to this motion as the member for Reynell, the member for King or any other member. Given that it is 1 o'clock, and the member for Unley is saying that he did not say what was alleged to have been said, and I certainly did not hear it, I think we might just leave it at that.

Sitting suspended 13:01 until 14:00.