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Child sex abuse inquiry to hear from members of stolen generations in NT Child sex abuse inquiry to hear from members of stolen generations in NT
(35 minutes later)
The royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse will on Monday begin hearing from members of the stolen generations who say they were sexually abused at a Darwin home.The royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse will on Monday begin hearing from members of the stolen generations who say they were sexually abused at a Darwin home.
The 17th public hearing of the royal commission is examining how the government and administrators responded to allegations of child sexual abuse by employees at the Retta Dixon home between 1946 and 1980, when it closed.The 17th public hearing of the royal commission is examining how the government and administrators responded to allegations of child sexual abuse by employees at the Retta Dixon home between 1946 and 1980, when it closed.
It is the first time the commission has held a hearing in the Northern Territory.It is the first time the commission has held a hearing in the Northern Territory.
Under the spotlight are the responses of the Australian Indigenous Ministries, formerly the Aborigines Inland Mission (Aim) and the Northern Territory and commonwealth governments to allegations raised at the Retta Dixon home, as well as responses from the NT police force and director of public prosecutions to specific allegations against a house parent. Under the spotlight are the responses of the Australian Indigenous Ministries, formerly the Aborigines Inland Mission (Aim) and the Northern Territory and commonwealth governments to allegations raised at the Retta Dixon home, as well as responses from the NT police force and director of public prosecutions to specific allegations against Donald Henderson, a house parent in the 1960s and ’70s.
Retta Dixon was one of the main government-run homes for children of mixed Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal descent forcibly removed from their families. It also housed unmarried mothers and their babies, and temporary visitors. At its peak it held 120 people, according to the federal government’s 1997 Bringing Them Home report.Retta Dixon was one of the main government-run homes for children of mixed Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal descent forcibly removed from their families. It also housed unmarried mothers and their babies, and temporary visitors. At its peak it held 120 people, according to the federal government’s 1997 Bringing Them Home report.
The royal commission will begin with testimony from a number of former residents and a former house mother. It will also hear testimony from current and former government and law enforcement authorities, including the general director of Aim, the Rev Trevor Leggott; the CEO of the Department of Attorney General and Justice for the NT, Gregory Shanahan, and the territory’s children’s commissioner, Howard Bath.The royal commission will begin with testimony from a number of former residents and a former house mother. It will also hear testimony from current and former government and law enforcement authorities, including the general director of Aim, the Rev Trevor Leggott; the CEO of the Department of Attorney General and Justice for the NT, Gregory Shanahan, and the territory’s children’s commissioner, Howard Bath.
The hearing is being held in Darwin’s supreme court building, the same place where almost 15 years ago Lorna Cubillo – the first witness to appear on Monday – lost a joint federal court battle for compensation against the federal government as a member of the stolen generations.The hearing is being held in Darwin’s supreme court building, the same place where almost 15 years ago Lorna Cubillo – the first witness to appear on Monday – lost a joint federal court battle for compensation against the federal government as a member of the stolen generations.
In 1947, a nine-year-old Cubillo was taken from a central Australian Aboriginal settlement and put in the Retta Dixon home.In 1947, a nine-year-old Cubillo was taken from a central Australian Aboriginal settlement and put in the Retta Dixon home.
Community announcements in Yolngu Matha and Modern Tiwi began airing on Northern Territory radio stations in Darwin and more than 40 remote locations last week.Community announcements in Yolngu Matha and Modern Tiwi began airing on Northern Territory radio stations in Darwin and more than 40 remote locations last week.
“The royal commission wants to ensure all survivors of child sexual abuse in an institution have the opportunity to share their story with the royal commission if they wish to,” said the royal commission CEO Philip Reed.“The royal commission wants to ensure all survivors of child sexual abuse in an institution have the opportunity to share their story with the royal commission if they wish to,” said the royal commission CEO Philip Reed.
The inquiry into the Retta Dixon home is expected to run for about two weeks.The inquiry into the Retta Dixon home is expected to run for about two weeks.
Previous public hearings have put the spotlight on numerous churches, schools and government organisations, including the Catholic church, the Salvation Army, Marist Brothers, Swimming Australia, the Scouts and New South Wales government-run homes and disciplinary institutes.Previous public hearings have put the spotlight on numerous churches, schools and government organisations, including the Catholic church, the Salvation Army, Marist Brothers, Swimming Australia, the Scouts and New South Wales government-run homes and disciplinary institutes.