The Government's royal commission into the abuse of children in state care has been expanded to include abuse suffered in church care.
Acting Prime Minister Kelvin Davis joined Breakfast this morning to discuss the Government's acknowledgment of the "immense trauma" experienced by children and why the parameters of the report end in 1999.
Mr Davis explained that the expansion of the inquiry was "the right thing to do".
"Look, we need to acknowledge the immense trauma many, many people have experienced over the decades in the care of other people."
However, while the inquiry has been expanded into faith-based institutions, it has not been expanded beyond the year 1999.
Mr Davis said the reason behind it was "just parameters around the age of children", adding, "There is discretion to go beyond 1950 but also after 1999, so there is the discretion."
However, Breakfast host Jack Tame wondered why it "wasn’t made the standard" to look beyond the 1999 cut-off date, asking, "Abuse has no doubt occurred since the year 1999, so why not make that the standard? If you're expanding the inquiry into church care, why not expand it beyond 1999?"
Mr Davis responded, "Well, because there is discretion. Those people who were in state care since 1999, they'll be in their late teens, early 20s – they'll have an opportunity to have their say. It’s important that the voices of these people are heard [and] that we acknowledge the trauma that we caused".
"I mean, someone said to me, you know, 'the worst parent in the world is the state', and that's absolutely terrible."
Jack fired back, saying, "Funny you mentioned that – the Labour government took over in December of 1999, so it's interesting, when you look at the dates of the inquiry into abuse under state care stops almost exactly when the Labour government comes into power".
Mr Davis said it was "coincidental", adding that there "were Labour governments from the 50s right through to 1999".
However, Jack noted, "You have ministers in your government who were part of that government".
"One or two", Mr Davis fired back. "We're not shying away from anything. There is discretion. There will be young people who were in state care since 1999 that will be able to have their say".
"You know, I think there's splitting hairs here, Jack – those people will be able to have the opportunity to have their say if they want to."
Jack added, "From an outsider’s perspective, it seems curious that you would expand the inquiry into faith-based institutions, but you wouldn't make it the standard that it covers state care all the way to the present day".
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