Luke Howarth (Petrie, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am here today to pay tribute to the thousands of survivors of institutional child sexual abuse who courageously spoke out with a determination to seek justice and protect other vulnerable children from having their childhood innocence stolen from them. I want to thank all the survivors for your strength and bravery to share your most painful life stories. I want to thank all those involved in the royal commission for your compassion and professionalism, which revealed this national tragedy. Finally, I want to say how thankful I am to be part of a parliament that brought this hidden pain into the light to ensure it never happens again.

Australia's children are our future. Research and personal testimony demonstrate the lifelong trauma and societal cost of childhood abuse. As abolitionist Frederick Douglass said, it is easier to build strong children than repair broken men. Previous policies have failed in the past, but I'm hopeful that our government's dedication to implementing the commission's recommendations will protect the innocence of our future youth, while our commitment to the Commonwealth redress scheme for survivors of institutional childhood sexual abuse recognises the suffering that so many endure. Sadly, there are those among us that harbour evil desires and abuse the power entrusted to them for personal self-gratification. As a father, I will fight with everything within me with this government to ensure we keep as many children as we possibly can safe from harm.