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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 23 OcTOber 2018

PM formally apologizes to Australian child sex abuse victims

By TREVOR MARSHALLSEA standing of the impacts of
Associated Press child sexual abuse, and to
SYDNEY (AP) — Prime Minis- ensure the nation does not
ter Scott Morrison delivered forget the horrors victims
a formal apology Monday have suffered.
to Australia's victims of child The research center will
sex abuse, saying the na- also assist those seeking
tion must acknowledge help, and guide best prac-
their long, painful journey tices for training and other
and its failure to protect services.
them. The government will also
Morrison's emotional commit to reporting ev-
speech given in Parliament ery year for the next five
before hundreds of survi- years on the progress of the
vors followed the conclu- royal commission's recom-
sion of a Royal Commission mendations. It has already
into Institutional Responses accepted 104 of the com-
to Child Sexual Abuse, the mission's 122 recommenda-
nations' highest level of in- tions, including a redress
quiry. payments program, with
"Today as a nation we con- the other 18 recommenda-
front our failure to listen, to tions still under examina-
believe, and to provide jus- tion. The government has
tice," he said, adding: "We Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center, delivers a formal apology to Australia's victims of also established a new of-
say sorry." child sex abuse in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, Oct. fice of child safety, to re-
Abuse survivors gathered 22, 2018. port to the prime minister.
in Parliament's Great Hall Associated Press Opposition leader Bill Short-
cried, yelled and applaud- en joined the apology, say-
ed as Morrison read the is charged with committing system of justice blind to in- "So today, we gather in this ing Australia had failed tens
apology. historical sex abuses himself justice? Why has it taken so chamber in humility, not of thousands of children,
"I believe you, we believe and was accused of failing long to act? Why were oth- just as representatives of across generations.
you, your country believes to protect children. er things more important the people of this country, "Our nation let you down.
you," he said. The prime minister said in his than this, the care of inno- but as fathers, as mothers, Today, we offer you our na-
The four-year inquest that speech Monday that it was cent children? Why didn't as siblings, friends, work- tion's apology, with humil-
delivered its final report in time for Australia to con- we believe?" mates and, in some cases, ity, with honesty, with hope
December revealed shock- front key questions. Morrison said nothing could indeed, as victims and sur- for healing now, and with
ing evidence from more "Why weren't the children be done to right the wrongs vivors." a fire in our belly to ensure
than 17,000 survivors and of our nation loved, nur- inflicted on children. The lawmakers stood for that our children will grow
heard allegations against tured and protected? Why "Even after a compre- a minute of silence follow- up safe in the future," Short-
government, church and was their trust betrayed?" hensive royal commission, ing the apology, which en said.
private institutions, as well he said. which finally enabled the came with the announce- While many survivors and
as prominent individuals. "Why did those who know voices to be heard and the ment of government plans campaigners welcomed
It also heard evidence from cover it up? Why were the silence to be broken, we to create a museum and the apology, others called
leaders such as Vatican cries of children and par- will all continue to struggle," research center to raise for more to be done to ad-
Cardinal George Pell, who ents ignored? Why was our he said. awareness and under- dress the history of abuse.q