Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

For over four years, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has borne witness to harrowing tales of abuse, the betrayal of sacred trust, and the violation of the most innocent and vulnerable amongst us. Australians have shuddered at the revealed evil of the perpetrators and marvelled at the courage of survivors. Brave souls have revealed a hidden shame to our national consciousness and, hopefully, begun a process of healing. Next week, the royal commission will hand down its final report and also submit a message to Australia—a collection of more than 1,000 personal stories for the National Library.

I want to pay tribute to Prime Minister Gillard for establishing this commission, and I want to thank all of the staff who have contributed to its important work. But, most of all, I want to say to the survivors: we believe you and we've learned the truth you told. I recognise that our systems and our nation have failed you in the past, but let me say that, as long as there is a Labor Party, Australia will not fail you now. Our parliament needs to rise to this moment. We must find it in ourselves to deliver redress and healing. Let this be our priority in 2018.

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