Board of Inquiry to investigate allegations of historic child abuse at Beaumaris Primary School

A special inquiry will probe the alleged abuse of students at Beaumaris Primary School during the 1960s and 1970s but a Liberal MP has slammed the scope of the investigation.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the inquiry would provide overdue recognition and support to victim-survivors. Picture: Ian Currie

Allegations of historic child abuse at a Victorian school will be investigated by a special board of inquiry.

Daniel Andrews on Wednesday morning announced a Board of Inquiry into the alleged abuse of students at Beaumaris Primary School during the 1960s and 1970s.

The Premier said the Board of Inquiry, chaired by Victorian Law Reform Commissioner Kathleen Foley, will be established in the coming days.

It will set up an official public record of the experience of victim-survivors by staff at Beaumaris Primary School, which emerged as a haven for paedophile teachers.

The inquiry is not investigating the current Beaumaris Primary School, or any other current school or contemporary staff members.

Mr Andrews said the process would not undo the pain of victim-survivors, but it would provide much needed and overdue recognition and support.

Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell (left) had called for a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into child sexual abuse in government schools. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“This is principally a truth telling process and one that is about providing people with that certainty that they are heard, they are believed, they are being listened to and that we take what occurred to them very, very seriously,” he said.

“Schools should be a place of love, care, support and learning. It should be a community that is safe. Beaumaris Primary School most certainly was not during the 60s and 70s.

“We know numerous cases of vile, evil and incredibly damaging abuse, sexual abuse. It is today that we take a big step forward.”

It is believed at least three staff members at Beaumaris Primary School engaged in predatory behaviour.

But Liberal MP Brad Rowswell, who has been pushing repeatedly for action in the parliament on behalf of the victims, said he welcomed the Board of Inquiry but warned it did not go far enough.

“The abuse that allegedly occurred at this local school is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

“We know that child sexual abuse is not isolated to one location, and we know that there are victim-survivors across the state who deserve to have the opportunity to have their voices heard also.

“To give some victim-survivors the opportunity for their voices to be heard and stories told, while not extending that opportunity to everyone, is just not right.

“If the Premier truly means what he says – “We see you. We hear you. We believe you.” – then he will extend the scope of this Board of Inquiry to every Victorian government school and every Victorian government school victim-survivor.

“Anything less than this is unacceptable.”

The Board of Inquiry will be chaired by Victorian Law Reform Commissioner Kathleen Foley.

But the Premier has given a commitment that the inquiry’s terms of reference will be broad to investigate the Department of Education’s response, as well as historic abuse at other schools.

“The Department (of Education) is absolutely in scope,” he said.

“The terms of reference do not prohibit this inquiry going further and looking at other schools if need be. If the evidence takes the inquiry there, that’s where the inquiry will go.

“This is very much a starting point and no one for a moment is suggesting there have not been other instances of abuse. There of course have been.

“It can become broader and I expect it will.”

Victim-survivor Glen Fearnett said while grateful that his story was being told, it had taken a long time.

“It was a little bit of a challenge to try and get to this point,” he said.

“We had to jump up and down and shout and do a whole lot of stuff, which I hope sets a precedent to be able to do this in a better way.”

Victim-survivors Tim Courtenay (left) and Glen Fearnett (right) say the inquiry has been a “long time coming”. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Fearnett said he felt obliged to speak up on behalf of other victims of historic child sex abuse.

“It’s about all of those people – people that have lost their voices, people who haven’t found theirs yet. I know of three people who aren’t with us anymore and I feel that we needed to speak for them,” he said.

“This is more prevalent than people think. (I hope) the guys that haven’t got their voices yet can finally stand up and speak knowing full well they’ve got support.

“I hope they can get that closure and come forward.”

Fellow victim Tim Courtenay said the announcement represented a “significant milestone” in his life.

“It was a long time coming,” he said.

Mr Rowswell had previously called for a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into child sexual abuse in government schools.

But Mr Andrews said a formal legal process was a better way forward.

“The last thing we need is more politicians involved in this,” he said.

Earlier this month, Mr Andrews met with victims of abuse at Beaumaris Primary School where he vowed to issue a landmark apology to all victims of abuse in government schools.

He also committed to providing a separate apology to Beaumaris victims.

The Board’s report is expected to be provided to the government by February next year.