Australian Indigenous Ministries Apologises to Sexual Abuse Victims

ABC
September 30, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2014/s4097739.htm

MARK COLVIN: The head of the evangelical group which ran the Retta Dixon Home in the Northern Territory has apologised to former residents of the notorious Indigenous children's mission.

But it says the group can't afford to pay financial compensation.

Reverend Trevor Leggott today faced the child abuse royal commission, which has been looking at allegations of severe physical and sexual abuse at the home.

Trevor Leggott told the commission that, despite running Australian Indigenous Ministries for the last 18 years, the first he had heard of the severity of sexual and physical abuse was this year.

He told the commission that while AIM had more than $4 million in property assets, it would be impossible to sell them to raise money for compensation.

Will Ockenden reports.

WILL OCKENDEN: Reverend Trevor Leggott has been the head of Australian Indigenous Ministries (or AIM) for 18 years, taking the top job in 1996.

Reverend Leggott began giving evidence early this afternoon, but before answering questions he asked to make a general statement.

TREVOR LEGGOTT: For me, it was hard to hear those things that those witnesses said were perpetrated whilst they were children in an organisation that was run by AIM, and I want to offer my humblest apology on my own behalf and behalf of AIM for the hurt that was caused to those children when they were in that institution.

WILL OCKENDEN: The Retta Dixon Home has been the subject of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse since Monday last week.

It has heard horrific allegations of abuse from nine witnesses, all former residents of the home.

The evidence included details surrounding the rape of children, and children committing sexual abuse on other children.

The royal commission has also raised questions as to why the office of the NT Director of Public Prosecutions dropped a case against convicted child sex offender Donald Henderson.

He's the man alleged to have committed the offences against the Indigenous children while he was working at the Retta Dixon Home.

Trevor Leggott told the Commission things have changed and things have been improved since he's held the top job.

TREVOR LEGGOTT: I've sought to do my best to put in place the things that were good or needful for the operation of the mission and the safety of those that we work with. If there's more that could be done, then it should be done, but I'm not aware of it.

WILL OCKENDEN: The commission spent much of the day enquiring about the schemes that could be available to victims of child sexual abuse while they were residents at the Retta Dixon Home.

AIM 's Trevor Leggott told the Commission that he didn't think that paying victims a lump sum of money for their suffering would be beneficial.

He says in any case, Australian Indigenous Ministries doesn't have the resources for financial redress.

TREVOR LEGGOTT: Basically, we live a hand to mouth existence in terms of our ministry, yes.

WILL OCKENDEN: It was revealed that AIM has a 'substantial number of properties' across New South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.

COUNSEL: Alright, well read out land and buildings at fair value: how much as AIM got?

TREVOR LEGGOTT: It says $4,144,739.

(Gasps and 'oohs' from public gallery)

WILL OCKENDEN: But Trevor Leggott says those properties are held under trust, and can't be sold.

There are two properties owned by AIM: one in NT and the other in the New South Wales Blue Mountains, but Reverend Leggott says selling them would mean the end of AIM's missionary work.

But he says if the organisation had the money on hand, he'd be happy to provide it.

REVEREND TREVOR LEGGOTT: Speaking for myself - I can only speak for myself and not the whole council - but, if we had the resources that we could make some sort of reparation in a meaningful way, I would say that would be appropriate.

WILL OCKENDEN: Reverend Leggott has run Australian Indigenous Ministries for the last 18 years, but he told the commission that he was unaware of the allegations of sexual abuse until very recently.

COUNSEL: Reverend Leggott, when did you first become aware of the allegations of abuse of children in Retta Dixon? In other words, how long has the organisation known of the claims of abuse?

TREVOR LEGGOTT: The first indication I had would have been when I received witness statements as part of this royal commission.

COUNSEL: Is it your evidence that the AIM, prior to the royal commission's hearing being announced, you were not aware of any claim at all in relation to abuse that took place in relation to Retta Dixon?

REVEREND TREVOR LEGGOTT: That's right.

COUNSEL: Not at all?

REVEREND TREVOR LEGGOTT: Not at all.

(Scoffing from public gallery)

WILL OCKENDEN: It's expected that today will be the last full day of the royal commission's Retta Dixon Home case study.

It's likely to wrap up tomorrow, with Gregory Shanahan from the Department of Attorney-General and Justice for the Northern Territory facing the Commission as its last witness.

MARK COLVIN: Will Ockenden.