Gerard Craughwell (Independent)

My colleagues previously spoke about education and the withdrawal of the service after three years. Having an advocacy group like Sage means that the door is open. It is a one-stop-shop where the victims of institutional abuse can go to get the information they need and perhaps engage in education and many other things.

Some time ago, I brought a delegation from the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel to Portsmouth to see how the advocacy group there operated. Outside the door of what used to be a sailors' hotel, men and women hang around smoking cigarettes. Former service people with problems pass the hotel. They might come as far as the door and then they walk away. The people outside the door are volunteers for the advocacy group. They approach people on their second time passing the door. The number of people they rescue is incredible. We are talking about people whose personal lives are a mess - people who were in institutions, some of whom have hidden it all of their lives. Some of them carry it with them every day of their lives. Some of them are not afraid to speak out or to show their hand while others are afraid. It is important to have a safe place to go where people feel the information and support they get is 100%. For that reason, I support both of Senator Boyhan's amendments. We need some certainty going forward and that is what we are trying to get.