COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

REFERENCES COMMITTEE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

References Committee

PARLIAMENT HOUSE

CANBERRA ACT 2600

Tel: (02) 6277 3515

Fax: (02) 62775829

Email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au

Website:http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_ca

1 September 2004

Mr Peter Carmine-White 12 Portchester Street CHRISTCHURCH NZ

Dear Mr Carmine-White

Inquiry into children in institutional care

The Committee's report Forgotten Australians relating to its inquiry into children in institutional or out of home care was tabled in the Senate on 30 August 2004. A copy of the report is enclosed for your information. The report will now be considered by the Government, which will then respond to the Committee's recommendations by making a statement in Parliament.

This report would not have been possible without the many hundreds of intensely personal and emotive submissions. The Committee is most grateful and records its thanks to everybody who provided submissions, but especially to all those who relived old memories and provided not only the graphic and disturbing accounts of their time in care but also of their life stories.

I have also enclosed a copy of the speeches made by Committee members when the report was tabled in the Senate. Unfortunately, as it was the last sitting day before the election, not all Committee members had an opportunity to speak to the report.

It is the Committee's intention to produce a second report by December that will focus on foster care and contemporary issues of child protection and child welfare.

Yours sincerely