Page 781 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 March 2019
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There is also the risk that the creation of this law will deter people from seeking anonymous advice and assistance, and it may have unintended negative consequences. As Mrs Jones has said, and as Mr Wall and I said back in June, we are not opposed to meaningful provisions that do all that we can to protect the children of our society from abuse, physical and sexual, but this provision engages my conscience. I cannot see that there is any mechanism whereby this is a meaningful provision that will actually make the lives of children threatened with abuse any better.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Disability, Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety, Minister for Government Services and Procurement, Minister for Urban Renewal) (5.14): I rise to speak in support of the Royal Commission Criminal Justice Legislation Amendment Bill. As has been outlined, this bill implements a number of recommendations made in the criminal justice report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and makes related amendments to the mandatory reporting and reportable conduct schemes to enhance the protection of children from abuse.
The profound and devastating impact of child sexual abuse cannot be overstated. These impacts last a lifetime. This fact was driven home by the evidence of brave survivors and families who shared their stories and experience as evidence to the royal commission. I, like many in our community, have been shocked and saddened by the personal accounts of people who were subjected to sexual abuse in institutions across Australia. Of their experience from speaking with survivors, the commissioners wrote:
Many spoke of having their innocence stolen, their childhood lost, their education and prospective career taken from them and their personal relationships damaged. For many, sexual abuse is a trauma they can never escape. It can affect every aspect of their lives.
The commissioners went on:
We also witnessed extraordinary personal determination and resilience among victims and survivors. We saw many survivors who, with professional help and the support of others, have taken significant steps towards recovery.
Undoubtedly, the strength of these individuals and the power of personal accounts have changed our nation. In sharing their stories, these individuals were not only seeking justice for themselves and their loved ones but advocating for change to ensure that no other parents or children have to go through what they endured. For victims and survivors, telling their stories has required great courage and determination.
A number of ACT survivors gave evidence. For example, the royal commission heard evidence from the family of a six-year-old boy who was abused by a respite care worker, and students at Marist College who were abused by Brothers Chute and Sutton. Today the ACT government honours the bravery of survivors of sexual abuse.
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