Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 15 December, when the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is published, it will represent for many a victory over the evil monsters who destroyed so many young lives and went unpunished. But, for many, it will also be a reminder of unbearable and unresolved pain.

For those of us whose lives have been untouched by child sexual abuse, the impact is hard to fathom. And of course a report won't fix it. But former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former Attorney-General Nicola Roxon wanted to establish this royal commission because of the need for survivors to receive some kind of answer to the question: 'How could this happen?' I hope that next week's report goes some way towards answering that question for those for whom it is so important.

The report represents a momentous effort by the royal commission and staff, including the Hon. Justice McClellan, the Hon. Justice Coate and their four fellow commissioners. They've handled more than 40,000 calls, held more than 8,000 private sessions and referred more than 2½ thousand cases to the police.

I would like to thank my colleague the member for Jagajaga, who has been a tireless advocate for survivors from the very beginning. The production of this report next week is a testament to her hard work.

The recommendations in this report must not go unheeded. It is up to us now to make the difference the survivors need.