2026-06-03
Following reporting by the Sydney Morning Herald, the NSW Parliament has today passed a motion recognising the State harm caused to two very young children and their families more than 15 years ago, and acknowledged the significant public good served by their mothers. The Attorney general has received an application for an ex gratia payment to recognise these issues, and the Parliament called for that application to be considered urgently.
A non-publication order means pseudonyms should be used in any publication. Jacqui* and her daughter Julia*, and Rachel* and her daughter Rose*.
Greens MP and spokesperson for justice and solicitor Sue Higginson said:
“Jacqui and Rachel, and their strong independent, now adult daughters, have achieved something extraordinary in the face of a justice system that failed to hear them when it mattered most,”
“These mothers did everything that the system asks victim survivors and families to do. They reported, they cooperated with police, they prepared their very young children for court, they pursued complaints, they gave evidence to the Royal Commission, and they helped drive reforms that now protect other children,”
“Their daughters were three years old when they were abused in a government-regulated childcare centre. The criminal case was discontinued because these very young children were considered unable to provide sufficient detail, but it has now been revealed that NSW Police did not seize or investigate electronic devices, and did not obtain video from the childcare centre,”
“That information was not given to these families at the time. It only came to light this year because of parliamentary questions and correspondence, and is the final piece of information that demands a proper response from the State,”
“The Attorney General has the application for an ex gratia payment. The Parliament has now recognised the public good served by these mothers and the harm caused by State systems. That application should be treated with urgency, and the 15 years of work by these women finally recognised,”
“The Government cannot undo what happened to Jacqui, Rachel, Julia and Rose. It can and should acknowledge the failures, and make an ex gratia payment that recognises the harm caused and the contribution these families have made to justice reform,” Ms Higginson said.