MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
HON. LINDA BURNEY MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES
MEMBER FOR BARTON
ROYAL COMMISSION - ONE YEAR ON
Today marks the first anniversary of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
That Report was the culmination of five years of work by the Royal Commissioners.
But most it importantly, it is a plan for change borne out of the stories survivors so bravely came forward to tell.
Governments and institutions owe it to the victims of survivors of institutional child sexual abuse to follow-through on the recommendations of the Royal Commission with urgency.
These recommendations must not be ignored, or quietly forgotten.
The National Apology and the establishment of a National Office for Child Safety are important actions.
But there is still a great deal of work to be done.
Governments must fully deliver on the national reforms to working with children checks recommended in 2015. Work with the states and territories on law reform must be progressed urgently.
And the National Redress Scheme must be implemented in a way that puts the interests of survivors first.
Institutions that have not signed up to the National Redress Scheme must do so immediately - the time for delay is over. There can be no more excuses.
The Royal Commission was established by Julia Gillard in 2012 and its work took five years to complete.
Victims and survivors deserve to know that lasting change to protect children will be delivered.
A Shorten Labor Government will redouble work with the states and territories towards the implementation of the Royal Commissions recommendations.
It is the responsibility of all governments and institutions to make sure the institutional child abuse never happens on this scale again.
SATURDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2018
