Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, Chair. Minister, I have a constituent who was abused as a decision by a justice in 1954 not to determine custody of the children. This child was placed in various informal foster arrangements and has suffered lifelong damage. So, this is not a case of someone who experienced abuse in an institutional setting; it is someone who was abused as a result of a decision of a Tasmanian institution. Where does someone like that go for justice?
Mr BARNETT – Thank you. Yes. It’s obviously, first of all, we cannot go into individual matters as you can understand, but certainly my heart goes out to someone as you have described in your question. It could clearly have ramifications for the longer term. Obviously there are whole – there is a very significant number of young people in out of home care, so that may have been, you know, what you have been referring to when you talk about ‘foster care’.
Ms O’CONNOR – It was an informal arrangement.
Mr BARNETT – Okay.
Ms O’CONNOR – A very abusive one.
Mr BARNETT – Yes. So, look, as I say, it is very hard to comment on an individual circumstance and I wouldn’t want to do that. But in terms of a civil claim, clearly the said person or someone in that situation could take advice and pursue their rights with respect to any claim that they may wish to make in accordance with our justice system and make a claim as what is called a civil claim, if that is appropriate. But I would certainly be taking advice.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, minister. I will just close by saying I am preparing some correspondence to write to you on behalf of this victim survivor, so keep your eye on the mail.
Mr BARNETT – Thank you for the heads up.
