Survivors 'Euphoric' about Report, but Concerned about Future

By Alison Caldwell
The ABC News
November 13, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/survivors-euphoric-about-report-but-concerned/5089174?section=vic

[with audio]

ELEANOR HALL: As the report was handed down in the Victorian Parliament this morning, the public gallery was packed with victims of child sexual abuse and their families, many of whom gave evidence at the inquiry.

Our reporter Alison Caldwell spoke to some of them afterwards.

ALISON CALDWELL: Anthony Foster's daughters, Emma and Katie, were repeatedly raped by their parish priest, Father Kevin O'Donnell, at their primary school in Melbourne's south east, from 1987 until 1992.

The Catholic Church had received numerous complaints about O'Donnell's behaviour dating back to the 1940s, but no action was ever taken.

Emma Foster eventually committed suicide. Her sister Katie was seriously disabled when she was hit by a car after binge drinking and now requires 24 hour care.

Anthony Foster says he and his wife Chrissie feel a sense of euphoria today, but also trepidation about what lies ahead.

ANTHONY FOSTER: Mixed feelings, of course. Brings back some sadness with our children. But we feel that this report has the basis for everything that we want. Talking to committee members after the presentation as well, I have confidence that this government, after reading the report, has a firm basis to implement everything that we wanted before this inquiry started.

ALISON CALDWELL: Anthony, what are the things that you and Chrissie were looking for was this ability for all victims to access the court system. The justice system to be able to sue, basically, for compensation. What's in the report there that might help that?

ANTHONY FOSTER: Well what's in the report is an indication that all organisations that receive government funding from now on will have to be incorporated and insured. And that implies accessible to the legal system.

Now, I think that's been heard loud and clear by the committee. I think it's been heard loud and clear by the Government. I think that will happen. That's an important step.

As well as that, of course, we need to make sure that the Church and other organisations can't just draw a line today and say we're forgetting about everything behind and we're on with the future and yes we'll toe the line now.

What's also in the report are statements that were made by organisations that they would re-look at claims from the past, if directed to by the Government. What's also in the report I believe, is that they will be directed to re-look at those.

Now, retrospectivity's a difficult thing, but I think this report has the basis to look after the victims from the past. And that's incredibly important that we don't forget them, just because of what's happened today.

There are some big organisations out there who are going to be trying to protect their wealth, because this was always been about the wealth and reputation of organisations like the Salvation Army, the Catholic Church.

ALISON CALDWELL: Stephen Woods and his two brothers were repeatedly raped and assaulted by a priest at their Catholic school in Ballarat in the 1970s.

STEPHEN WOODS: I'm really happy about today. It's just wonderful to hear that parliamentarians and the powers that be hold and listen to victims' stories and believe us. And they want to see change happen, not only for the organisations that committed these heinous crimes but also for society in general. That these problems be taken as seriously as they are.

ALISON CALDWELL: Can you be confident that the Government won't just sort of rest on its laurels waiting now for the Royal Commission? What would you like to see them do? Do you want them to do something quickly?

STEPHEN WOODS: Yes, there needs to be a support system put in place, rather like the TPI for survivors of war. Because there are so many survivors of clergy sexual abuse, that there needs to be a system put in place, organised by the Government, paid for by the organisations of the perpetrators, so that we can stop the deaths.

The suicides need to be stopped. That's critical. And we need to make sure that people are looked after on a day-to-day basis. It's just terrible seeing the pain in so many people's lives.

And it's terrible for my own pain. I know with my own life, the hassles that I go through on a day-by-day basis, the pain, the depression, the anger, the frustration of knowing, well what could I have been if I hadn't been assaulted.

ELEANOR HALL: That's Stephen Woods, one survivor of child sexual abuse, speaking to our reporter Alison Caldwell in the Victorian, in the public gallery of the Victorian Parliament this morning.