Since our petition was launched on 1 February 2022 over more than 50 emails and communications with relevant members of the Victorian Government - requesting to meet to talk about the implementation of pilots of Recommendation 9.1 of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse - have been met with a resounding silence.
The following are the key aspects of the Victorian Government's continued silence and inaction, on a recommendation that would make all relevant services and supports more accessible to survivors of child sexual abuse. Supported by access through 'no wrong door', reducing the need for multiple, unnecessary referrals and help to navigate complex systems.
- Systemic Non-Response: What the Victorian Government has implemented in response to our petition.
- "Accept in Principle" Strategy: The Victorian Government has "accepted recommendation 9.1 in principle only". A response to avoid making concrete commitments, which has prevented substantive action on recommendation 9.1.
- Ignoring with Impunity: The Victorian Government ignoring Recommendation 9.1, has allowed policymakers to avoid immediate political fallout. At the expense of the implementation long-term solutions that would signficantly improve the lives of victim/survivors of child sexual abuse.
- Lack of Accountability: There are yet to be any formal consequences for the Victorian government, and other governments, failing to respond to Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Reponses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Victorian government is no longer reporting on the outcomes their responses to the each recommendation of the Royal Commission achieved, nor are other State Governments.
The Victorian Government's continuing silence as a response to our petition which was tabled in Victorian Parliament, and the dozens of emails and other communications, is perpetuating the actions of institutions.
One of silence and a complete failure of oversight.
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Hence, we have once again emailed members of the Victorian Government, regarding their response to recommendation 9.1 of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.