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Compensate All Victims Of Child Abuse

A FORMAL apology should be issued and compensation paid 10 victims abused over an 80-year period in children's homes, a Senate report says.
A laudmark; Senate report released yesterday singled out South Australia for criticism for destroying the records of wards of the state.
The child abuse report - Forgotten Australians - details neglect, starvation and physical and sexual abuse involving thousands of children in care between 1900 and 1979.
The children suffered abuse in homes run by trusted organisations, such as the Catholic and Anglican churches, the Salvation Army, Barnardos Australia and state agencies.
Releasing the report, inquiry chair Senator Jan McLucas wept as she spoke about the pain and suffering inflicted on the children.
"The magnitude and widespread occurrence of abuse provides evidence of the need for a fundamental reappraisal by such Institutions of their responsibility for this parlous history," Senator McLucas said.
A formal apology to victims from the federal and state governments as well as churches and welfare agencies headlined the 39 recommendations from the report, the culmination of a 17-month inquiry.
It also recommends a national reparations fund be set up with contributions from governments and churches.
A board would consider claims and award monetary compensation based on victims proving a "reasonable likelihood" that abuse occurred.
A royal commission should be launched if the agencies refuse to co-operate.
The 400-page document criticises South Australia for destroying the records of wards, denying the victims the ability to recover their past. "The committee considers that the destruction of ward records in South Australia stands out as being a particularly disgraceful event," the report says.
However, the report praises the State for removing the 1982 time limit for the prosecution of sexual offences, which was held up as a national model.
Of the 500,000 children nationally who were in the care of the state or other institutions until 1979, about 150,000 were in South Australia.
Latest figures estimated the cost of child abuse and neglect in the state at more than $354 million a year.
A spokesman for Opposition Leader Kob Kerin said the findings vindicated his calls for an inquiry at state level.
A spokesman for Families Minister Jay Weatherill said the minister was examining the document and South Australia was preparing to call submissions for its own inquiry.

Adelaide Advertiser (31-8-2004)