Tuesday, 28 July 2026

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (18:58): (2625) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Government Services. I recently met with a lady who as a child was a ward of the state for 14 years. She was brought to tears sharing her concerns about legislation introduced by the Allan Labor government without consulting forgotten Australians and care leavers that makes sensitive records publicly available after 99 years and permits unrestricted access through the Public Record Office Victoria website. This reality contradicts the former Premier’s 2024 apology to care leavers, in which she agreed to take steps to redress past wrongs.

Treating these records as ordinary public records continues the injustices experienced by forgotten Australians and care leavers by exposing their deeply personal histories to public view. These records can include personal stories, abuse allegations, medical and family details and more. The public release of this information can risk retraumatisation and reputational harm to forgotten Australians and care leavers and their families. This lady spoke up on behalf of all children in care to question who is protecting their privacy. After my constituent raised concerns with the minister, the Public Record Office Victoria responded and justified the release of this information so that decisions made by the government and its employees can be reviewed and remain transparent, but the Alliance for Forgotten Australians would like to see the legislation amended so that records relating to children who were wards of the state or otherwise in out-of-home care are designated permanently sensitive. This would uphold the privacy and dignity of forgotten Australians and care leavers through trauma-informed law and practices, preventing these records from ever being opened to general public access.

I ask the minister to review this issue to ensure the transparency of government processes without the need to make these sensitive records fully available to the public. My constituent is traumatised and distressed by the prospect of their personal information being made publicly available online and raised concerns on behalf of all forgotten Australians and care leavers, and I look forward to the minister’s response.