These women have grown up holding a terrible secret. Their childhoods stolen, and with a sense that justice will never be done they had all but given up. Raped, abused and assaulted: They will forever be the forgotten generation of Australian children that went through the institutions that would change their lives forever. The terrible truth is that if we do nothing, they will remain this way. Swept under the carpet, and forgotten.
One of the abuse victims, Wilma Robb said the state government of the time threatened to pursue costs if victims lost. In fact, an inquiry into child sex abuse has been told the New South Wales government deterred abuse victims who attempted to sue with the threat that they would be pursued for costs if they lost.
Wilma Robb, 67, told the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse that a group of about 40 women tried to start proceedings against the NSW government a few years ago.
Robb told of being raped and assaulted at Parramatta Girls home and the Hay Institute for Girls after being committed to Parramatta by the children’s court when she was 13 because her mother had cancer and her father was violent.
The claim by the 40 women never went to court. Some of the women were advised to settle because the government made it clear it would pursue costs if they lost. These women cannot afford the risk, and for good reason, the NSW government is not playing nice.
One government solicitor sent one of the claimants, Wendy Patton a letter saying she owed them $120,000 for investigations. Another claimant lost her case as the Supreme Court in Sydney mercilessly tore her apart, claiming that the damage had already been done because she had been sexually abused as a child before she was put in the homes. She had to pay costs.
This heartless attack on victims of child abuse cannot slip under he radar; we must let the NSW government know that we will not stand for this. We Demand follow-up investigation into sex abuse cases and misconduct, and this without the threat of payment hanging over the victims heads. Give these woman the justice they deserve!
