MP pledges inquiry into school abuse

IF he is re-elected in November, upper house Member for Western Victoria Stuart Grimley has pledged to establish an inquiry into child sexual abuse in government schools.

He said the inquiry would be guided by survivors of sexual abuse, investigating institutions including Beaumaris Primary School, the base of an alleged paedophile ring, and the knowledge of then Department of Education staff.

“We acknowledge that the State Government have made significant law reform in Victoria around child safety following the Royal Commission,” Mr Grimley said.

“However, this doesn’t exempt them from taking ownership and acknowledging the failures of consecutive State Governments that enabled the abuse of potentially thousands of children.”

In parliament last week, Mr Grimley also advocated for a formal apology to be made to those who were abused as children within State institutions, and their families.

“Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party is calling on the Premier to apologise to child sexual abuse survivors and deceased victims, where their abuse occurred in government institutions, particularly schools,” he said.

“An apology costs nothing but means so much to these survivors and the victims’ families. Most other states have apologised. Victoria should make this commitment as a matter of urgency, to enable a healing process for victim-survivors and their families.

“I have spoken to countless victim-survivors who have been dragged through the courts to fight the State Government for just compensation, and in some cases where convictions have been recorded. The Government should just pay up.”