SA: Nearly 800 contact ward abuse inquiry

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2005
SA: Nearly 800 contact ward abuse inquiry

By Lauren Ahwan

ADELAIDE, Aug 12 AAP - Almost 800 people have come forward to give evidence to South
Australia's inquiry into abuse of children in state care, forcing a second extension to
its deadline.

Commissioner Ted Mullighan today said it was impossible to meet the state government's
deadline to hand down his findings next June.

"A little less than 800 people have contacted the commission so far," Mr Mullighan said.

"Nearly 650 of them were alleged victims.

"Experience now indicates we couldn't finish before the end of the year."

The inquiry, which started last December, was originally due to wind up after six months
but has already been granted an extension until next June.

Mr Mullighan said that deadline would not be met, despite a doubling of staff to cope
with the burgeoning number of victims.

He said there had been a large influx of people coming forward since May, when a interim
report was released detailing 34 orphanages or detention centres in SA where wards claimed
they were sexually abused, including allegations of pack rape.

A new report date has not yet been set.

Mr Mullighan said a number of alleged abuse victims, who contacted the inquiry, named
the same perpetrator.

"It's not just random," he said.

"I can think of one case where there's seven allegations - allegations by seven different
people against one person.

"There are other examples of that with lesser allegations against a particular person.

"I haven't yet formed a view that anyone (making the allegations) is being mischievous
or dishonest."

Only one person has so far been charged as a result of the inquiry: a 86-year-old man
who is facing six counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, three counts of indecent assault
and one count of procuring an act of gross indecency.

Mr Mullighan said he was not surprised there had not been more arrests.

SA's police paedophile taskforce was initially established in 2003 to deal with child
sex abuse within the Anglican Church and Mr Mullighan said police were still sorting through
those cases before moving to wards of state.

SA Families and Communities Minister Jay Weatherill today conceded some victims would
seek compensation from the government for their abuse and said "if the state has a liability
it will meet its responsibilities".

But Mr Mullighan said that was not the reason most alleged victims had come forward.

"It's very interesting that most of the people I've spoken to haven't talked about
compensation, (they) haven't come here for that purpose," he said.

"A few have, but not many."

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KEYWORD: ABUSE NIGHTLEAD

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