Abuse Victims Seek Aid

The Age
September 5, 2013

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/abuse-victims-seek-aid-20130901-2sz04.html

A group of Victorian clergy abuse victims say they have been brushed off by both main parties as they seek financial and moral support for the duration of the federal sex abuse royal commission.

Andrew Collins and Peter Blenkiron were abused while students at Ballarat's St Patrick's College in the 1970s and '80s and informally co-ordinate a group of 100-odd victims and family members. The group has welcomed the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse but says it brings challenges. Up to 40 abuse victims in the Ballarat area alone have taken their own lives and the group fears the royal commission will stoke more suicidal thoughts.

Mr Collins has called for a full-time support worker during the commission. He also says a dedicated pension fund would support victims who struggle to work and connect them to health services.

But the group's suggestions fell on deaf ears. Mr Collins and Mr Blenkiron spoke to Ballarat Labor MP Catherine King, Liberal candidate John Fitzgibbon and Greens candidate Stephanie Hodgins-May and left each meeting despondent.

''Catherine King was very quick to effectively say, 'We've spent all this money on the royal commission and that's it','' Mr Collins said.

Mr Fitzgibbon was even more blunt and offered no encouragement, Mr Collins said.