House debates
Monday, 22 October 2018
Statements on Indulgence
National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
2:30 pm
Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The Prime Minister and I, and indeed all the members of parliament, had the privilege of meeting survivors, victims and families in the Great Hall and down at Federation Mall. We got to hear some of their stories and see what this day and the national apology have meant to them. I said earlier this morning that this day belongs to these Australians. Some of them have fought for this moment for decades; others have not lived to see justice done. All their lives, people in authority have told them that their interests come second, that there are other more important things. Today they come first.