E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP
CANBERRA
SUNDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2018

SUBJECTS: Wentworth by-election, National Apology to victims and survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.

BILL SHORTEN, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Well, first things first. We don’t know who has won Wentworth definitively, although the size of the swing I think has surprised everyone in politics.  
 
There is a clear message here, that the voters are deeply unhappy with why Malcolm Turnbull was rolled, and there’s never been a proper explanation. They are frustrated with the instability and the chaos and the division.
 
Now, Mr Morrison did say that if Kerryn Phelps was elected, it would lead to all sorts of further instability. It’s up to Mr Morrison to now explain how he thinks he can govern when on Friday, he was warning everyone that he couldn’t.   
 
JOURNALIST: Labor managed a minority government for several years. Is it hypocritical to say the Government couldn’t?

SHORTEN: Mr Morrison is still the Prime Minister, that hasn’t changed. I haven’t seen a lot of humility in the Government. You know, when I look at the Wentworth result, and even though Labor wasn’t the main game here, I just want to reassure voters across Australia, I hear what they are saying.
 
That they don’t want politics as usual. They want better. That’s why I want to be Prime Minister, because we intend to offer proper policies for all Australians, a fair go for all Australians. We don’t have the division that the Liberals have, and we intend to be a bold and daring government, standing up for ordinary people.
 
Last question, thank you.        
 
JOURNALIST: Can I ask you about the Apology? What’s your message to survivors who have made the journey to Canberra for this historic moment?

SHORTEN: My message to survivors is that I am sorry, and that Labor is sorry, the nation is sorry. Tens of thousands of little children were put into terrible care. Then when they said there was something wrong, they were ignored. Tomorrow’s Apology for me isn’t just about, though, the people in institutional care. There’s other survivors of child abuse, and not all abuse was sexual, there were other forms of abuse of children.
 
So I’m deeply conscious that tomorrow is an important day, but that for a lot of people who mightn’t feel included, it will be hard for them. It will re-open old wounds. I just want to promise people that Labor is committed to the full recommendations of the Royal Commission. People want to hear words, but they want to see action.
 
I’d also acknowledge Julia Gillard’s absolute leadership. I was proud to be part of the Cabinet who supported the initial Royal Commission. Australia has done that better than any other part of the world. It now falls to the current generation of parliamentarians to honour the spirit of the stories, the bravery of the survivors, to make sure that tomorrow is not just about words, it’s about actions.
 
Thanks everybody.