Senator Bacik commenting on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.

Order of Business

Senator Ivana Bacik: On the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, Senator Harris is correct to say that we will be judged by future generations on how we responded as a society to the needs of the victims and survivors of abuse. Horrific though the findings of the report are, it is clear that it is only the tip of the iceberg because the scale of abuse and the further revelations to come will shock us further.

I support Senator Norris's call for a change to the equality legislation and a removal of the exemption for religious orders. We should also be looking at quashing the convictions of the infants and children who were sent to institutions on the foot of criminal convictions. That is outrageous in this day and age.