The State Government Apology to Former Wards of State Abused in Care was made as a motion to the House of Assembly by the Premier, Paul Lennon, on 17 May 2005. The Leaders of the Opposition and Greens as well as a number of other members spoke. The motion was carried by all.
Lennon’s words were:
I move that this House:
(1.) acknowledges and accepts that many children in the care of the State were abused by those who were meant to care for them and provide a safe and secure home life;
(2.) apologises to the victims and expresses deep regret at the hurt and distress that this has caused; and
(3.) acknowledges the courage and strength it has taken for people to talk about events that were clearly traumatic and which continue to have a profound impact on their lives.
Lennon also announced that the government would provide services for Care Leavers and further funds for the redress scheme already in place. The full speech begins on page 21.
The Commonwealth government’s 2009 Lost Innocents and Forgotten Australians revisited report described the apology as containing ‘straightforward statements acknowledging the abuse suffered by children in State care and expressing deep regret’.