(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
The South Australian Premier says sexual abuse allegedly committed against seven pre-schoolers by a state-employed carer may be unprecedented in the nation's history.
Jay Weatherill expects there'll be a Royal Commission into what he's described as sickening and horrific allegations of sexual assaults against pre-schoolers.
As Karen Ashford reports, the allegations come barely a year after a similar Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in a public school.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Premier Jay Weatherill fought to control his emotions while speaking about the allegations.
"If these allegations are true they amount to unspeakable acts of evil committed against little children. All of the supports that we can muster to support those little children and their families to grapple with this situation will be provided. What we do know is that these are some of our most vulnerable children - children that were taken away from their parents to keep them safe, and yet the people that we entrusted to care for them betrayed that trust."
A 32 year old Families SA employee has been charged with seven counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and multiple pornography offences.
Police arrested the man on June 10, but it's taken until now for police to find his alleged victims.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Dickson says police are undertaking the complex task of cross referencing the material found in the alleged offender's possession with state government records.
"This analysis has been tireless and has involved the examination of over 100,000 still photographs and 600 video files containing child exploitation material. Due to the complexity and enormity of the data to be analysed, this investigation may take many months before it is completed."
The Premier says people should ready themselves for more terrible news to emerge
"The truth is that South Australians should be prepared to learn of horrific details as these matters progress through the courts. They should also prepare for the possibility that there will be further victims. The allegations that have been made here are of such a scale and magnitude and potential scope, this is unprecedented in possibly South Australia's or the nation's history."
The government is contacting the children's families.
Two have moved interstate since the alleged offences, which have so far been identified as occurring between mid 2011 and late 2012.
Jay Weatherill says he assumes ultimate responsibility for the failure, apologises and has pledged to see justice done.
Meanwhile he says authorities will get every resource they need to improve safety and support the families involved.
"As a father and as a leader of the state I am horrified, I am sickened, I am angry, but most of all I am determined to see that justice is done for these little children. Now this case obviously has serious ramifications for our system and nothing now can be assumed about the way in which we care for the most vulnerable children. I expect it will be necessary for there to be a Royal Commission into this matter."
It's reported that the alleged offender had unsupervised oversight of children in residential care for up to 16 hours at a time.
He also worked in an out of hours school care setting, but police have not identified any alleged victims there.
The Child and Family Welfare association of South Australia has questioned screening processes, training and supervision of carers, and wants to know what's being done to provide safe child environments.
The state's deputy chief executive of child safety David Waterford says Families SA has followed international best practice, but in light of these allegations everything must be reconsidered .
"All prospective employees undergo rigorous working with children background checks and testing of their character. Background checks are undertaken every three years for continuing employees. All checks were undertaken for this person."
Education and Child Development Minister Jennifer Rankine says the screening showed nothing that would prohibit the man's employment.
"He went through all of those checks and he also underwent what they refer to as psychometric testing - which was developed by an Australian expert, the sort of testing that our police officers go through, but I understand it was specially devised for people working in that area. I mean, like you, the first thing I asked myself was how, with all of these things in place, could someone get through all of those checks with no indication. It is gut-wrenching."
The Opposition leader Steven Marshall says he supports a Royal Commission.
The accused, who is subject to extensive suppression orders, is due to re-appear before the Adelaide Magistrates Court next month.
The state government has established a hotline for concerned families - it is 1800 659 572.
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