This week's ABC Four Corners episode Hiding Behind Tombstones stated "The Royal Commission was meant to make it easier for victims to seek justice, but a fierce battleground is emerging which is flying in the face of law reforms recommended by the historic inquiry and enacted by parliaments." The Four Corners investigation highlighted the devastating human costs of governments not implementing recommendations in full.

The Victorian Government has yet to respond to our latest email of 19 May 2023, requesting it provide the level of transparency and details the majority of other State and Territory governments, and the Federal government provides, on actions taken in response to every, relevant recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Here's what we communicated to the Office of the Premier, the Minister of Health, and other relevant Victorian government ministers today.

"Dear Secretary of the Department of Justice and Community Safety, and Acting Deputy Secretary of Children and Families Division,

We remain very disappointed that the Victorian Government continues to make it impossible for Victorians to easily understand what the Government has actually implemented for each Royal Commission recommendation, that includes traceability to the Government’s initial response to the Royal Commission 2017 report, as the Tasmanian government (attached) and other Australian governments provide.

Therefore, we are now starting to update the attached response table the Government initially provided, with what the Government has reported it has implemented.  Starting with Recommendation 9.1, but also for recommendations of Volumes 6, 7, 8, 13 and 18 which are relevant to the Premier’s planned apology later this year. Sorry is as sorry does, and all Victorian victim/survivors, their families and communities deserve to know if the Premier’s apology is genuine.

• Surely it is the job of the Government to provide this level of transparency to Victorians?
• Just as surely the Victorian Minister of Health should be available to share what the Government has actually implemented in their response to Recommendation 9.1?

We look forward to your response."

The Victorian Government's continuing lack of transparency and details of actions taken and outcomes achieved, in response to the Royal Commission recommendations is unconscionable. 

We will continue to advocate for the implementation of the Recommendation 9.1 in full by the Victorian Government.

And we will also continue to advocate for the Victorian Government to share with the public, details and outcomes achieved for all of their responses to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. 

Every response from governments, society and individuals to a victim/survivor of child sexual abuse matters, because it can impact their healing process and pursuit of justice. 

The Victorian Government has the opportunity to create numerous, powerful positive impacts for so many Victorians, their families and communities, through the full implementation of the Royal Commission recommendations. All Victorians deserve to know the extent to which our Government has embraced that opportunity.