This media release concerns the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Insti­tu­tion­al Child Sexual Abuse, delivered by the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, on 22 October 2018, and the statement made by the Leader of the Oppos­i­tion, Bill Shorten. Those speeches can be viewed here.
To download this media release in PDF format, click here.

Comment on National Apology

Anton Block, President
16 October 2018

The Executive Council of Aus­trali­an Jewry, for itself and the Aus­trali­an Jewish community, whole-heartedly endorses the national apology to victims and survivors of insti­tu­tion­al child sexual abuse that was made in the Federal par­lia­ment by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and the call to action that followed by Oppos­i­tion Leader Bill Shorten.
In par­tic­u­lar we acknow­ledge and join in the apology for the abuses that have occurred in Jewish insti­tu­tions, the failure to heed the warning signs, the refusal to listen to com­plaints from children and their families, the failure to protect the children and the reprisal actions taken against those who exposed the wrong­do­ing. It is a core part of our Jewish values that the life of the indi­vidu­al cannot be sac­ri­ficed to the interests or con­veni­ence of any insti­tu­tion, and it is a shocking truth that certain insti­tu­tions that pride them­selves on their Jewish ethos at times failed to operate by those values.
We must redouble our efforts to ensure that Jewish community organ­isa­tions which have the care of children have adopted and imple­men­ted appro­pri­ate standards of child pro­tec­tion and are taking a pre­vent­at­ive, proactive and par­ti­cip­at­ory approach to child safety issues, so that the safety and wellbeing of children in each of their organ­isa­tions is a paramount con­sid­er­a­tion in their policies and oper­a­tions. We must also continue to encourage Jewish community organ­isa­tions which have had the care of children to join the National Redress Scheme.
There can be no higher priority than pro­tect­ing the safety and well-being of our children.
Contact:
Peter Wertheim | Co-CEO
ph: 02 8353 8500 | m: 0408 160 904
e: [email protected] | www.ecaj.org.au