{"id":2487,"date":"2019-11-18T19:18:54","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T19:18:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/?p=2487"},"modified":"2020-01-01T03:59:34","modified_gmt":"2019-12-31T19:59:34","slug":"pm-defied-his-own-expert-panel-during-apology-speech-to-child-sex-abuse-survivors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/pm-defied-his-own-expert-panel-during-apology-speech-to-child-sex-abuse-survivors\/","title":{"rendered":"PM defied his own expert panel during apology speech to child sex abuse survivors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"intro\">Scott Morrison&#8217;s use of the term &#8220;ritual sex abuse&#8221; \u2014 a term associated with the extremist QAnon conspiracy movement \u2014 appears to run counter to advice given to him by survivors and government-appointed experts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"post__details\">\n<p class=\"author__name\"><span class=\"author_container\"><a class=\"author url fn\" title=\"Posts by David Hardaker\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crikey.com.au\/author\/dhardaker\/\" rel=\"author\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\">David Hardaker<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"date\">Nov 18, 2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"social_share mobile_hide\">\n<div id=\"attachment_2749\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2749\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2749\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/morrison1.jpg?resize=740%2C443&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"740\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/morrison1.jpg?w=740&amp;ssl=1 740w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/morrison1.jpg?resize=300%2C180&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2749\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Prime Minister Scott Morrison is seen after delivering the National Apology to survivors of child sexual abuse in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, October 22, 2018. (AAP Image\/Mick Tsikas)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>When Prime Minister Scott Morrison used the controversial words \u201critual sexual abuse\u201d \u2014 the language of an extreme alt-right conspiracy \u2014 in his historic apology to survivors in federal parliament last year, he appears to have disregarded the advice of child sex abuse survivors and a panel of government-appointed experts.<\/p>\n<p>Documents obtained by <em>Inq<\/em>, as well as interviews we\u2019ve conducted with key players, show that the prime minister departed from a tightly choreographed set of actions and words, several months in the planning, when he used the term \u201critual sex abuse\u201d to refer to the institutional sex abuse uncovered by the McClellan royal commission.<\/p>\n<p>The term normally refers to satanic ritual abuse, an extremely rare practice for which there is little evidence. <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><em><a style=\"color: #993300;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crikey.com.au\/2019\/10\/31\/scott-morrison-qanon\/\">Inq <\/a><\/em><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crikey.com.au\/2019\/10\/31\/scott-morrison-qanon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\">has previously revealed<\/span><\/a> that Morrison family friend and leading Australian promoter of the extremist US-based QAnon conspiracy movement, Tim Stewart, had been pushing for the words \u201critual abuse\u201d to be included in the prime minister\u2019s speech, as part of QAnon\u2019s agenda to expose Luciferian or Satan-worshipping paedophiles who they believe secretly run the world.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<aside class=\"related-story\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crikey.com.au\/2019\/10\/31\/scott-morrison-qanon\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2750\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/QAnon-feature-image.png?resize=440%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"440\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/QAnon-feature-image.png?w=440&amp;ssl=1 440w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/QAnon-feature-image.png?resize=300%2C205&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px\" \/><\/a><\/aside>\n<aside><\/aside>\n<aside class=\"related-story\">\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/2019\/10\/31\/scott-morrisons-conspiracy-theorist-friend-claims-he-has-the-pms-ear-and-can-influence-what-he-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\">Scott Morrison\u2019s conspiracy-theorist friend claims he has the PM\u2019s ear \u2014 and can influence what he says<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/2019\/10\/31\/scott-morrisons-conspiracy-theorist-friend-claims-he-has-the-pms-ear-and-can-influence-what-he-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #003300;\">Read more &gt;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The Prime Minister\u2019s Office told <em>Inq<\/em> last month that Morrison heard the term \u201cdirectly from the abuse survivors and the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Reference Group\u201d, a bipartisan 11-member body of survivor advocates and MPs set up to advise the government on the wording of the national apology and the conduct of the apology ceremony, drawing on four months of consultations with communities around Australia.<\/p>\n<p>However members of the reference group have no memory of the phrase \u201critual abuse\u201d being raised during the group\u2019s discussions or in its state by state consultations with abuse survivors.<\/p>\n<p>Panel member Chrissie Foster, who led efforts for an inquiry into church sex abuse after two of her daughters were serially abused by a Catholic priest, told <em>Inq<\/em> that the term was \u201cnot something we would have used\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were consulting with victim groups,\u201d Foster recalled, \u201cand if that had come up at all we would have got rid of it. If anything it would have been \u2018don\u2019t use this\u2019,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\">\n<div id=\"attachment_2748\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2748\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2748\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Child-sexual-abuse-survivor-advocate-Chrissie-Foster.jpg?resize=600%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Child-sexual-abuse-survivor-advocate-Chrissie-Foster.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Child-sexual-abuse-survivor-advocate-Chrissie-Foster.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2748\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chrissie Foster who&#8217;s daughter was abused by a catholic priest is seen outside the County court at Cardinal George Pell&#8217;s trial at County Court in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Cardinal Pell, once the third most powerful man in the Vatican and Australia\u00d5s most senior Catholic, has been found guilty of child sexual abuse after a trial in Melbourne. (AAP Image\/David Crosling)<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Labor MP Sharon Claydon, whose seat of Newcastle is home to a large number of Catholic and Anglican church abuse survivors, flatly denied that the term had been raised or that the reference group had any notice Morrison would use the words in the national apology.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never ever heard anybody in my community or others use the term \u2018ritual abuse\u2019. Honestly, no one in that reference group has ever uttered the word \u2018ritual\u2019 or \u2018ritualised abuse\u2019,\u201d Claydon recalled.<\/p>\n<p>Other panel members requested anonymity because they rely on federal government funding. \u201cI\u2019ve only heard the term once before, from [a well-known conspiracy theorist] and I thought it was strange,\u201d one member said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s odd. No one knows where it came from,\u201d said another.<\/p>\n<p><em>Inq<\/em> has obtained a 20-page briefing given to the prime minister which details the forms of language which should be used to avoid offending or retraumatising survivors. The 50 terms and phrases should, according to the panel\u2019s advice, be \u201cheartfelt, sincere and respectful\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>They include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We believe you<\/li>\n<li>It is not your fault; You did not do anything wrong<\/li>\n<li>We are sorry we did not believe you before\/in the past<\/li>\n<li>We are sorry we trusted the churches, charities and state governments over you children<\/li>\n<li>This is a societal problem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The phrase \u201critual sex abuse\u201d does not occur anywhere in the document.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2752\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/extract-advice-1.jpg?resize=581%2C408&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"581\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/extract-advice-1.jpg?w=581&amp;ssl=1 581w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/extract-advice-1.jpg?resize=300%2C211&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>As reported by <em>Inq<\/em> last month, Tim Stewart is a prominent promoter of the QAnon conspiracy movement that believes there is a secret \u201cdeep state\u201d plot against Donald Trump and a cabal of Satan-worshiping paedophiles who rule the world and control politicians and the media.<\/p>\n<p>Stewart\u2019s wife is best friends with the prime minister\u2019s wife, Jenny Morrison, a relationship which goes back to teenage years, and has been employed by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on the recommendation of the Prime Minister\u2019s Office, working at the PM\u2019s Sydney residence Kirribilli House.<\/p>\n<p>In the days before Morrison\u2019s apology speech, Tim Stewart \u2014 who tweets as \u201cBurn Notice\u201d under the Twitter handle @BurnedSpy34 \u2014 claimed to have influenced the prime minister to make a reference to \u201critual\u201d abuse because it introduced the idea of secret ceremonies with Satan\u2019s involvement, which aligns with QAnon\u2019s theory of global threats.<\/p>\n<p>He was backed in his efforts by abuse campaigner Fiona Barnett, who claims to have witnessed the beheading of children as part of a ritual ceremony in Bathurst Town Hall and who has alleged that she was trafficked as part of a VIP paedophilia ring.<\/p>\n<p>After Morrison\u2019s use of the word \u201critual\u201d, Stewart tweeted to his 20,000-plus followers: \u201cA new conversation began today in Australia \u2026 It was a stepping stone to be sure, but we took the step. @ScottMorrisonMP took control of the narrative powerfully and commenced phase 1 of our restoration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2754\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Burn-Notice-tweet.jpg?resize=597%2C465&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"597\" height=\"465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Burn-Notice-tweet.jpg?w=597&amp;ssl=1 597w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Burn-Notice-tweet.jpg?resize=300%2C234&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 597px) 100vw, 597px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><em><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scott Morrison&#8217;s use of the term &#8220;ritual sex abuse&#8221; \u2014 a term associated with the extremist QAnon conspiracy movement \u2014 appears to run counter to advice given to him by survivors and government-appointed experts. David Hardaker Nov 18, 2019 &nbsp; When Prime Minister Scott Morrison used the controversial words \u201critual sexual abuse\u201d \u2014 the language [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[135,34,164],"tags":[159,163,217,162,216,158,215,160,161],"class_list":["post-2487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australias-move-to-the-right","category-religion","category-the-pm-and-the-qanon-conspiracy","tag-8chan","tag-conspiracy","tag-crikey","tag-lynette-stewart","tag-paedophilia","tag-qanon","tag-ritual","tag-scott-morrison","tag-tim-stewart"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2487"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2487\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}