Puffing Billy ApologyMinister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events

1 would also like to welcome the people who have experienced abuse and their

families who are here today and acknowledge those who could not be with us

here today.

Having read the Victorian Ombudsman's report, Investigations into child sex

offender Robert Whitehead's involvement with Puffing Billy and other railway

bodies, and reading some of your stories, 1 am deeply moved by your courage in

comingforward.

Nothing 1 say can take away the pain and the suffering you experienced, the

shame and the anguish which you did not deserve.

But we can stop the silence, we can be as brave as you have for all these years

and do everything possible to ensure that this doesn't happen again.

Today, with the members ofthe Parliament ofVictoria gathered here in this

House, we acknowledge the devastating and ongoing impact of Robert

Whitehead's criminal acts and the cries for help that were ignored.

The Victorian Government sincerely apologises to victims, including Wayne

Clarke, theirfamilies, theirfriends, communities and anyone else who has been

impacted by the abuse perpetrated at Puffing Billy.

We apologise for the inaction of those who, in the past, failed to support those

who spoke out.

1 would especially like to recognise Wayne Clarke's persistence in bringing the

matter to the attention of the Government which led to the Ombudsman's

investigation.

1 would also like to recognise the work ofVictoria Police, especially Leading

Senior Constables Nova Graham and Meta Vincent, and the Office of Public

Prosecutions in relation to prosecuting Whitehead, the Victorian Ombudsman,

whose is in attendance here today, in publicly documenting what happened and

the former Minister, John Eren, in leading the Government's effori;s to address

the issues raised by the Ombudsman and working with the impacted individuals.

1 am deeply affected by the Ombudsman's report. The findings show that not

enough was done to protect children from child sexual abuse at Puffing Billy

during the 1960s to 1980s.

All recommendations made by the Ombudsman have been accepted in full. The

Victorian Government is now working to implement measures that deliver on

those recommendations.

As part ofthis, Working with Children Checks and Police Checks are mandatory

for all Puffing Billy volunteers, and have been since 2014.

Victoria's Child Safe Standards are also being implemented at Puffing Billy. The

Government encourages the implementation of and compliance with these

standards.

While the Government has worked to provide respect and suppori; to victims in

recent times, their long-term pain and suffering cannot be underestimated.

By sharing your stories, you have paved the way for new policies and

procedures to protect the safety of children in Victoria - this is an enormous

contribution to our community and no amount of thanks can ever truly convey

how important your involvement has been.

But 1 will say it anyway - thank you.

This Government will continue to do all we can to ensure people affected by

abuse receive the respect and support they deserve.

Again, on behalfofthe Parliament, the Govemment and the people ofVictoria.

I join with the Premier and atl honourable members in saying - we are sorry.