Wednesday, 19 June 2024

Ministers statements: child sexual abuse

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:07): I rise to update the house on the government’s response to the board of inquiry report into historical child sex abuse at Beaumaris Primary School. An inquiry is far more than its final report; it is a unique opportunity to hear and acknowledge pain, validate experiences, promote accountability and support healing and closure. Today the Premier and I announced that the government will accept each and every one of the recommendations of the board of inquiry. In making this clear and simple acknowledgement, we acknowledge that we failed. We failed to keep children safe. We failed to listen when they spoke out. We failed to act to ensure that it did not happen again. Both the action and inaction of the Department of Education constituted a gross systemic failure.

I say to Glen Fearnett, Rick Turner and Tim Courtney, who joined the Premier and me this morning: as children you experienced a system that sought to silence you. Now as adults you have refused to be silent anymore. To their partners and other victim-survivors we say thank you for showing the most incredible courage and a determination to protect others in a way that you were not. I would also like to acknowledge the advocacy of the member for Sandringham as well as a former member in the other place, Mr Grimley.

The government has accepted all nine recommendations, which are supported by an investment of $48.29 million. We know the victim-survivors of the Beaumaris cluster are not an isolated group. That is why we will establish a statewide independent truth-telling process designed to ensure victim-survivors from all over the state have their experiences heard and validated and to help contribute to individual and collective healing. We will also do a holistic review of child sexual abuse matters that were treated and responded to across the Victorian government system. This work is not over; rather, it is just the next step towards healing. At the conclusion of all our processes we will put on public record an apology in the Parliament in consultation with victim-survivors.