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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-30 Daily Xml
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Government Apologies

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General a question about government apologies.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Child sex abuse victim Ki Meekins is a man well known in this place, not just for his courage, bravery and determination but also for his common decency and the legacy he will leave for others. Ki was the architect of an inquiry into the abuse of children in state care led by former South Australian judge Ted Mullighan, in 2004, after he revealed to the Today Tonight program, almost 30 years ago, how he was sexually abused as a child in state care. The 58-year-old's story inspired other survivors to come forward and led to some of the most substantial child protection reforms in the state's history. It also led to the Premier personally apologising to Ki in state parliament earlier this year.

Since March this year, Ki has been waiting extremely patiently for a letter of apology from the state government as part of the National Redress Scheme. I raised this delay with the Premier recently and he committed to look into the matter—a relatively simple task you would think. While Ki's lawyer, the well-respected and highly experienced Jennifer Corkhill, believes they could be close to agreeing on the words, the government's lawyers seem to disagree, and Ki is left waiting.

Recently, Ki was contacted by a lawyer from the Department for Child Protection to discuss the contents of the letter without Ms Corkhill's knowledge and without her being present, something that upset Ki and outraged his lawyer. The government lawyer then contacted Ms Corkhill claiming Ki had agreed to the department's draft letter when that wasn't the case. My questions to the Attorney are:

1. Do you think it is ethical for a government lawyer to contact an extremely vulnerable person—who is known to always be represented by Ms Corkhill and who attends all meetings with Ms Corkhill—without the knowledge of, and not in the presence of, Ms Corkhill?

2. While I know you are not the minister representing the Minister for Child Protection in another place, do you know the reasons for the unacceptable delay in finalising Ki's letter of apology and, if not, can you please come back to this place in the New Year with a reply? I think Ki is entitled to know when the apology letter will be finalised.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:36): I thank the honourable member for his important question. I think, as the member has referenced in his question, the Department for Child Protection oversees things such as apologies. I think in a speech marking the anniversary of former Premier the Hon. Mike Rann's apology to victims of sexual abuse in state care, I am aware the new Premier, Premier Malinauskas, referenced the matter of Mr Meekins in his speech.

In relation to where a form of words is up to and the process it is up to, as the honourable member has outlined, I do not have details in relation to that. But, as the honourable member has suggested, I will be more than happy to take that on notice and bring him back a reply.

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