Brownlee Gerry; Luxon ChristopherDEBATESFinal Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based InstitutionsSPEAKER: Members we now come to the debate on the final report of Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions. I call on the Rt Honourable Prime Minister to move that the House take note of this report.Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): I so move.This is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It's the day that this Parliament accepts with deep sorrow and regret the report of the royal commission of inquiry into abuse in care. At the heart of this report are the stories of 2400 survivors—many of whom are here today. To every person who took part I say thank you for your exceptional strength your incredible courage and your confronting honesty. Because of you we know the truth about the abuse and the trauma that you endured. I cannot take away your pain but I can tell you this: you are heard and you are believed.Many of your stories are horrific and harrowing. They are painful to read but not nearly as painful as they were to endure. The State was supposed to care for you but instead many of you were subjected to the most horrendous physical emotional mental and sexual abuse. A number of faith-based schools institutions and people in positions of authority who you should have been able to trust failed you in the worst possible way. When you tried to speak up those same people turned a blind eye they covered it up and they prevented you from seeking justice for far too long. Māori Pacific deaf and disabled people disproportionately bore the brunt of a lot of what had occurred and not only did this have a devastating impact on your life but also on your families and your communities.We like to think that abuse like this doesn't happen here in Aotearoa New Zealand but it did and it is a shameful chapter of our history that we must confront. And this is a dark and sorrowful day in New Zealand's history and it's important that as a country we bring to the surface and we understand the hard truths of what happened so we can try and move forward together. And I say to the survivors the burden is no longer yours to carry alone. The State is now standing here beside you accountable and ready to take action.The royal commission traversed many types of care as part of its inquiry and it is my heavy duty to say today the Government is formally acknowledging that the experience of some children and young people at Lake Alice Hospital did amount to torture. Patients at Lake Alice were given electric shocks without anaesthetic as well as painful and immobilising paraldehyde injections. These so-called treatments were not administered for medical reasons; they were used for punishment and emotional control. These experiences were nothing short of horrific and they happened in the New Zealand health system in living memory. To the survivors of Lake Alice some of whom are here today thank you for your determination to ensure that what you suffered was brought to light. What happened was wrong. You knew then it was wrong and all these years later the State also acknowledges that it was wrong. Today I stand humbly before you in this House to offer a long-overdue apology to the survivors of Lake Alice. I am sorry that it has taken so long for this acknowledgement of torture.I want to also acknowledge Paul Zentveld and also Malcolm Richards who took cases against New Zealand. I want to acknowledge both of them because they took cases against New Zealand to the United Nations Committee against Torture. Thank you for your courage thank you for your bravery and thank you for your determination. I know that for some Lake Alice survivors the acknowledgement today that what happened to you was torture is something for which you have been waiting for decades. And for you this is a day of great significance. For others who suffered torture I know that this acknowledgement feels hollow without the recognition that comes with redress. I regret that it is not something that we can give you today but I assure you it is a priority for the Government in the coming months.We are here today because it was important to the Government that an acknowledgement and sincere apology be made with gravitas and dignity. It deserved to be made in this Parliament. And I know that some survivors are in fragile health and also that a number had passed away during the inquiry never hearing the State acknowledge the true extent of what happened to them and to their families and to their whānau. I am sorry that they are not here to hear the State admit to what we should have owned many years ago.Not every child in State care was harmed and of course there are and always have been many dedicated and devoted foster parents and social workers committed to looking after children in their care but today is about acknowledging those who had their childhoods cruelly taken away from them. The tabling of the royal commission of inquiry into abuse and care report is of historical significance to New Zealand. It is the result of the largest and the most complex public inquiry ever held on our shores. The report has taken six years to write and it is almost 3000 pages long comprising 16 volumes. And because of this the content needs to be considered with respect and with care that cannot be rushed and the findings in this report need to be widely understood.And while we can never make right the harm that survivors experience the Government must be accountable and support survivors. Erica Stanford will lead a ministerial group to respond to the report's findings and the 138 recommendations. The first step is a formal apology which will take place on 12 November. This is a significant and important milestone and we are working with survivor groups on the apology and the event. The apology will provide an important opportunity for the Government and the leaders of other political parties to take responsibility on behalf of the nation for the failures of the State across many Governments.I know survivors have been waiting a long time for changes to how the State and churches provide redress and I want to assure you that we understand the urgency and the importance of that work and we will provide clarity before the end of the year.I do want to pay special tribute to the commissioners and to all of the staff who worked on this inquiry. There is no doubt—no doubt—that for those who have heard and have written and have read these accounts they have been impacted by these horrific and harrowing experiences. The care the sensitivity and the dedication you have shown in compiling this report is greatly appreciated. Thank you.I would also like to acknowledge the previous Labour Government who commenced this important inquiry almost six years ago. A terrible injustice was done in the name of State care and it is now the responsibility of the State to make redress and this Government will ensure that it happens and as Prime Minister I will ensure that the State carries its care and protection responsibilities with tremendous weight.As difficult as it is I hope that all New Zealanders take the time to read this report to understand the abuse that you the survivors suffered and the lifelong impact it had on your lives. Through this we will understand the obligation that we all have to prevent it happening again and to speak up whenever and wherever we see abuse of anyone in care or otherwise.I want to again acknowledge the survivors for their exceptional bravery and for sharing their stories. I share your dream for the next generation where every child young person and adult is loved is safe and is cared for in a manner that supports their growth and development to becoming a thriving contributor to our society. I will never lose sight of what you have endured to bring the truth to life.I would like to close with an excerpt from a karakia written by Te Waihoroi Shortland who worked on the inquiry. And he saidTo you upon whom this inquiry has been centredResolute in your pursuit of justiceRelentless in your belief for lifeWe have only our highest regard and respect.May your peace of mind be assured."Thank you.Waiata—"Purea Nei""