Rosemary Thomson: Criminal Barrister and Lake Alice Survivor on the need for redress for the survivors of abuse in care

Abuse in care survivors are united in their desire for urgent action following the Government's apology. 

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has proposed renaming streets and public amenities that are named after known abusers and establishing a National Remembrance Day. 

He's also committing $32 million into the existing settlement process. 

Criminal barrister Rosemary Thomson —a Lake Alice survivor— told Mike Hosking some survivors are sceptical, while others want to give the Government the benefit of the doubt. 

She says everyone agrees redress is urgent, as the survivors are getting older, and generally aren't in good health. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
After the apology comes to the redress. Of course, you

(00:02):
can already sense the feelings around the artworking so that
the abuse and state care survivors are waiting for the
government's next steps and what they look like. Criminal barrister,
former lake Alis Detainey Rosemary Thompson is well, this's Rosemary,
very good morning to you. Y's Kira, Mike, how do
you feel about yesterday?

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Well, could I first of all acknowledge all the survivors
of the institutional abuse in New Zealand and which includes
those who are still with us and those who are
no longer with us. And also I'd like to acknowledge
all those who have fought over the years for justice
and some have been fighting for nearly half a century.
And these include survivors but also importantly supporters, including journalists. Now,

(00:39):
in terms of the apology yesterday, there's no criticism of
the apology. It's very falsome as really, as you say,
what happens next and the response by the survivors to
the apology really falls into two camps. There are those
who are cynical who do not believe there's going to
be meaningful redress based on the fact there's been no
action in the past, and those prepare to give the

(01:01):
government the benefit of the doubt and want to see
what happens in the new year.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
What do you do I mean, I have absolutely no
doubt in my mind that this government is good to
its word. You may not like what they come up with,
but they're good to their words. Surely most of us
would agree with that, wouldn't it.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Oh, absolutely would agree with that. So both camps would
agree that redress is urgent because the survivor is getting
older and in general they're not in good health. And
as I said, obviously it's appropriate to give the government
the benefit of the doubt, and they've got that opportunity,
and they've asked that they'd be given to the new
year to work on redress. And ultimately it remains to

(01:39):
be seen, obviously, but it's important because it was, as
you say, it was given in good faith in Parliament
by the Prime Minister, supported by Cyndy cabinet ministers and
supported by the leader of the Opposition. And as I said,
give them the benefit of the doubt and look forward
to positive resolution.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
Well, I will get to the Prime Minister to tell
you when that's coming. After seven thirty this morning, Rosemary,
appreciate it. Rosemary Thompson, who's criminal barrister former Lake elis detaining.
I think you'd be churlish, and some people are to
be frank that yesterday was in any way, shape or
form anything other than hand on heart, the right and
proper thing to do and delivered with dignity. For more
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(02:19):
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