Abuse survivors call out slow Government progress

Bouquets of flowers delivered to Parliament were wrapped in black paper with the words: “Honour the promise”. They contained flowers picked from hospitals, care residences and other sites of abuse.

The survivors arrived with the Human Rights Commission to call out the Government’s slow progress at implementing the Royal Commission on Abuse in Care’s recommendations.

Children’s Minister Karen Chhour was in tears as she spoke, and listened, to other survivors. She said it had been strange, as a minister, to have been part of the formal apology to survivors of abuse – while herself being apologised to.

Other survivors and advocates said some of the work Ms Chhour had done, as minister for children, was in itself a betrayal of the Government’s promises to survivors.

In 2024, the Royal Commission made more than 100 recommendations aimed at transforming the care system, improving redress for survivors and preventing future abuse. The Human Rights Commission said progress had been slow.

“We are concerned to see less than 10 per cent of the recommendations have been implemented so far, and the voices of survivors have clearly been put aside,” said the Commission’s chief executive, Meg de Ronde.

Erica Stanford, the minister responsible for the Government’s response to the inquiry, said the Government was still working on an improved redress system.

Ms De Ronde accepted the inquiry envisaged reforms taking up to 15 years, but said the pace and direction of implementation remained concerning.

“What we have seen is that many of the recommendations have been declined by the Government and some have been implemented in ways that further harm survivors,” she said.

Survivors of abuse, including children’s minister, in tears as they call for action (By Glenn McConnell and Molly Swift/Stuff)