Former residents of Christian rehabilitation facility accuse former Australian PM Scott Morrison of “silencing” them
Former residents of the Esther Foundation Christian rehabilitation facility in Perth have accused former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of “silencing” them in their efforts to speak out about allegations of abuse and mistreatment. The claims emerged after the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) found that a $4m grant for the centre was approved with “insufficient due diligence” and was likely given without lawful authority. The facility, which claimed to help women with addictions, mental health and eating disorders, shut down last year following the allegations. Morrison visited the centre in 2019 to announce the grant, three years before the allegations were made public. There is no suggestion he had any prior knowledge of the allegations. Multiple claims of sexual assault, gay conversion therapy, forcible restraint and unqualified pharmaceutical treatment emerged through a Western Australian government inquiry launched after former residents spoke out in the media last year.
Cara Phillips, who spoke publicly last year about how she was treated at the facility, stated that Morrison’s visit had been a deterrent to women who wanted to speak out. “A lot of people have said that they felt further silenced by that, because it's even harder to speak out if something has been endorsed by the prime minister,” she said. Lucy Lorenti, who ran away from the facility in 2018 after being sent there for an eating disorder, said she had been preparing to speak up about her experiences until she saw the 2019 announcement. “Put next to a politician that the entire majority of the country has voted in because they trust that person, why would they believe someone who's been put into an institution?” she asked.
The ANAO's findings on the Esther Foundation were part of a wider investigation into the federal government's Community Health and Hospitals Program (CHHP), which the auditor found was "undermined by deliberate breaches of the Commonwealth Grants and Rules and Guidelines." The report found that 70% of the CHHP funding was directed to projects in electorates that were considered marginal. Centre for Public Integrity research director Catherine Williams said systemic reform was needed. "It's money that belongs to all Australian people, and they are absolute minimum requirements for what should be in place when that money is being spent," she said. She suggested that the criteria for grants programs worth more than $100m should be set out in legislation.
The former residents of the Esther Foundation hope that the ANAO findings will lead to further oversight of the grants approval process. Morrison’s office was contacted for comment. The ANAO’s report provides further evidence of the need for transparency and due diligence in all federal grants and funding programs. The government must act to ensure that taxpayer funds are being used appropriately and effectively to support vulnerable members of the community.
