Mark Freeman
White crosses symbolising the lost innocence of children who were abused in state and faith-based institutions were placed on the lawn of parliament yesterday.
The government yesterday formally apologised at parliament to victims who were abused while in the care of state institutions and faith-based institutions from 1950 to 1999. The apology followed the released in July of the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in care.
“The 500 white crosses represent the innocence that has been stolen from the children, the dignity that has been stolen, and the suffering that they’ve had in their lifetime,” says George Brannigan of the White Crosses Campaign.
The group is trying to increase public awareness nationwide about institutional abuse and the report’s 138 recommendations. The report found the government guilty of abuse and torture. It also cited 112 MPs and senior public servants over the years as responsible for keeping the abuse quiet. They weren’t named, Brannigan says, but it’s easy to figure out who they are. Fifteen are still in parliament today.
Survivors are calling for those responsible for suppressing the abuse to be brought to account, he says.
That call for accountability is echoed by another group supporting abuse survivors who set up signs near the cenotaph just outside parliament grounds.
The Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith Based Care and their supporters say many politicians and religious leaders who did nothing about the abuse need to be held to account.
Spokesman Shayne Mechen said victims he spoke to don’t believe the politicians’ apologies are sincere.
“If you were down at Shed 6 today [where the apologies were live-streamed], you would have seen many people coming out of there in tears after five minutes because they couldn’t handle, as they called it, the BS that these politicians and other leaders are talking about...no accountability and very few people have been prosecuted...many victims are going to die before they see any justice.”
The network also says victims deserve not only an apology but a significant financial payment and access to properly funded health services.
