Recommendation 20

The government and faith-based institutions should publish their responses to this report and the Inquiry’s interim reports on whether they accept each of the Inquiry’s findings in whole or in part, and the reasons for any disagreement. The responses should be published within two months of this report being tabled in the House of Representatives.

The government and faith-based institutions should issue formal public responses to this report about whether each recommendation is accepted, accepted in principle, rejected or subject to further consideration. Each response should include a plan for how the accepted recommendations will be implemented, the reasons for rejecting any recommendations, and a timeframe for any further consideration required. Each response should be published within four months of this report being tabled in the House of Representatives.

The government should seek cross-party agreement to implement this Inquiry’s recommendations.

The government, faith-based institutions and any other agencies that implement the Inquiry’s recommendations should: 

1. publicly report on the implementation of the Inquiry’s recommendations contained in the final report and all previous interim reports, including the implementation status of each recommendation and any identified issues and risks.
2. publish the implementation report annually for at least 9 years, commencing 12 months after the tabling of this report in the House of Representatives and provide a copy to the Care System Office and Care Safe Agency.

The annual implementation reports should be submitted to and considered by a parliamentary select committee.

The government and faith-based entities should implement the Inquiry’s recommendations within the timeframes described in this report, whilst ensuring there is open and transparent communication with communities with whom they are co-designing the future arrangements for care.

The government should initiate an independent review to be completed by 9 years after the tabling of the final report. This review should: 

1. establish the extent to which the Inquiry’s recommendations have been implemented 9 years after the tabling of the final report
2. examine the extent to which the measures taken in response to the Inquiry have been effective in preventing abuse and neglect in care, improving the responses of all entities providing care directly or indirectly to abuse and neglect in care and ensuring that victims and survivors of abuse and neglect in care obtain justice, treatment and support.
3. advise on what further steps should be taken by governments and all entities providing care directly or indirectly to ensure continuing improvement in policy and service delivery in relation to abuse and neglect in care.

The government’s implementation reports, and the independent 9 year review should be tabled in the House of Representatives and referred to a parliamentary select committee for consideration.

The government and faith-based institutions should publish formal responses to the independent 9-year review, indicating whether its advice on further steps is accepted, accepted in principle, rejected or subject to further consideration. Each response should include a plan for how the accepted recommendations will be implemented, the reasons for rejecting any recommendations, and a timeframe for any further consideration required. Each response should be published by 31 December 2033.