Formal sorry to child abuse victims

There will be a formal apology to child abuse victims by the South Australian Parliament.

Hundreds of people who were abused as children while in state care will get a formal apology from the South Australian Parliament today.

The Mullighan Inquiry recently exposed hundreds of cases of abuse, some dating back to the 1960s.

Commissioner Ted Mullighan called it a foul undercurrent of abuse in SA institutions.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann will move an apology to the victims in Parliament.

Ki Meekins, who gave evidence to the inquiry, says the apology will mean a great deal to him.

"My first thoughts are major, monumental task for the State Government to actually finally once and for all admit what's going on and actually apologise to the victims," he said.

"At least we've got the Government apologising. At least we've got them now admitting something that for years and years and years has been innuendo."

Mr Meekins says compensation payments capped at $50,000 can never make up for the years of harm.

Victims will attend a ceremony at Old Parliament House in Adelaide after the apology.

Related:

SA commits $190m to counter child abuse
Former Supreme Court justice Ted Mullighan released the results of his three-year inquiry into the abuse of children in state care on April 1, revealing abuse occurred in every type of care from the 1940s onward.

Child abuse compo must be fairer: lawyer
The recent Mullighan inquiry investigated cases of abuse among former state wards and made a range of recommendations to the SA Government.

Compensation for SA sex abuse victims
The South Australian Government says it will focus on compensation for victims, now that the inquiry into the sexual abuse of children in state care is complete.