Calls for full-scale parliamentary inquiry into child sexual abuse in Victorian public schools

The state opposition will formally call for a parliamentary inquiry to be established to probe the systemic sexual abuse of children in Victorian public schools.

The state opposition will formally call for the appointment of a parliamentary committee to probe the systemic sexual abuse of children in Victorian government schools. Picture: Andrew Lee

The Andrews Government is facing mounting pressure to launch a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into child sexual abuse in government schools.

The state opposition will this week formally call for the appointment of a parliamentary committee to probe the systemic sexual abuse of children in Victorian government schools.

It comes after the Herald Sun on Tuesday revealed the government was facing a multimillion-dollar court action over the alleged abuse of drama teacher Peter Henry Sutton.

At least eight men have alleged they fell victim to Sutton in the 1980s amid claims he was shuffled between schools by the Education Department despite complaints against him.

Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell, who has been lobbying the government for action on behalf of victims, will move a motion which would require a committee to be set up by next month.

At least eight men have alleged they fell victim to drama teach Peter Henry Sutton in the 1980s. Picture: Supplied

It would be tasked with probing the practices, policies and protocols in Victorian government schools for responding to allegations of sexual abuse of children, as well as measures put in place to respond to concerns about sexual abuse in those schools.

And it would be required to report to parliament by November 30.

Earlier this month, Daniel Andrews met with victims abused at Beaumaris Primary School which has emerged as a haven for paedophile teachers in the 1970s.

And he vowed to issue a landmark apology to all victims of abuse in government schools.

Mr Rowswell has told parliament more needs to be done.

“Sexual abuse of children was rife in the 1970s, with schools in my own electorate recognised as where some of the worst offending in the Victorian government school system occurred,” he said.

Beaumaris Primary School which has emerged as a haven for paedophile teachers in the 1970s. Picture: supplied

“Given the trauma that many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Victorians have experienced whilst in the care of the Victorian government school system, it is so critically important to understand the scale of abuse and to hear of these harrowing stories directly from victim-survivors themselves.

“Over the past months I have heard, myself, the traumatic stories and met with several victim-survivors.

“After months of lobbying, it is an important first step that the Premier has now met with these victim-survivors and has vowed to apologise for the crimes committed.

“But the point I make is this: how can the Premier apologise for something where the scale of abuse is largely unknown?

“Now is the time for the Premier to go further and recognise the pain and suffering of these victim-survivors by launching a dedicated parliamentary inquiry.”

Calls for the inquiry have been backed by victim survivors, and prominent legal groups.

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes has left the door open to support the potential inquiry.

Premier Daniel Andrews is facing mounting pressure to launch a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into sex abuse at government schools. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Beaumaris Primary School has emerged as the epicentre of the abuse crisis in Victorian government schools, with at least four known offenders identified as working there in the 1970s.

Sources close to a police investigation involving one of the teachers say the alleged offending was an open secret, and multiple complaints were made about the teachers at the time.

But they have accused the Department of Education of either doing nothing, or shuffling the teachers between schools or regional education offices.

It has been estimated more than 100 children may have been abused at Beaumaris Primary School.

The Department’s handling of abuse claims at the time has been likened to the way the Catholic Church notoriously shuffled paedophile priests between parishes for decades.

The Victorian Department of Education is currently facing multiple legal actions over its handling of paedophile teachers.

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