Public Sittings

The Inquiry held its first Public Sitting in Melbourne on 28 February 2011. At this session, the Panel explained the process for the Inquiry and for making submissions. This was followed by a series of Public Sittings in regional and metropolitan locations as listed below.

Individuals and organisations were invited to make verbal submissions to the Inquiry Panel during the Public Sittings. Those who made written submissions were also offered the opportunity to address the Panel and raise new points in relation to their submissions.

Verbal Submissions

The Inquiry was non-adversarial, forward-looking and focused on finding solutions, not assigning blame or fault. The Terms of Reference directed the Inquiry to examine the system as a whole, and not to consider or make recommendations regarding individuals or review individual organisations.

The Inquiry was not a court of law nor was it an investigative authority to examine individual complaints.

Information provided to the Inquiry was not legally privileged and was subject to the ordinary rules of self-incrimination and of defamation as well as the Information Privacy Act 2000.  The Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 prevented the publication of particulars likely to lead to the identification of a child or a party to a Children’s Court proceeding or a witness to that proceeding.

In some instances text was redacted from the transcript of verbal submissions made at Public Sittings to ensure compliance with the legislation.  Some speakers are referred to by an initial in order to ensure compliance with the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.

Private details such as personal phone numbers and addresses were redacted from the transcripts to protect the privacy of the individual.

For more information, please refer to the Guide to Making Verbal Submissions (PDF, 26KB).

Date	Location	Time	Notes
28 February 2011	Melbourne Exhibition Centre, South Wharf	10:00am-11:00	Transcript of Chair’s Opening Statement (216KB, PDF)
18 May 2011	Geelong Geelong Arena, 110 Victoria Street, North Geelong	10:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Geelong 18 May 2011 (254KB, PDF)
25 May 2011	Ballarat Ballarat Bowls Club Havelock Street,· Ballarat (City end next to Eastern Oval)	10:00am	Public Sitting Transcipt Ballarat 25 May 2011 (164KB, PDF)
1 June 2011	Bendigo Discovery Science and Technology Centre 7 Railway Place, Bendigo (next to Bendigo Station)	9:30am	Public Sitting Transcript Bendigo 1 June 2011 (312KB, PDF)
8 June 2011	Morwell Morwell Football and Netball Club Travers Street, Morwell	10:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Morwell 8 June 2011 (170KB, PDF)
16 June 2011	Mildura The Mildura Grand, Seventh Street, Mildura	9:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Mildura 16 June 2011 (73KB, PDF)
28 June 2011	Melbourne Melbourne Town Hall Swanston Street, Melbourne	9:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Melbourne 28 June 2011 (657KB, PDF)
30 June 2011	Shepparton Parklake Hotel 481 Wyndham Street, Shepparton	9:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Shepparton 30 June 2011 (396KB,PDF)
5 July 2011	Melbourne Melbourne Town Hall Swanston Street, Melbourne	9:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Melbourne 5 July 2011 (733KB, PDF)
7 July 2011	Broadmeadows Broadmeadows Town Hall 1079 Pasoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows	10:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Broadmeadows 7 July 2011 (505KB, PDF)
8 July 2011	Werribee Wyndham Civic Centre 45 Princes Highway, Werribee	10:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Werribee 8 July 2011 (366KB, PDF)
11 July 2011	Dandenong Chisholm Institute of TAFE Building W, Cleeland Street, Dandenong (Enter from Cleeland Street Mel Ref 90 E4)	9:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Dandenong 11 July 2011 (521KB, PDF)
15 July 2011	Warnambool South West TAFE Timor Steet, Warrnambool	9:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Warrnambool 15 July 2011 (190KB, PDF)
19 July 2011	Horsham Horsham Town Hall 78 Wilson Street, Horsham	10:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Horsham 19 July 2011 (220KB, PDF)
22 July 2011	Bairnsdale Mercure Bairnsdale 355 Main Street, Bairnsdale	9:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Bairnsdale 22 July 2011  (149KB, PDF)
25 July 2011	Wodonga Wodonga Institute of TAFE, 158 Lawrence Street, Wodonga	10:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Wodonga 25 July 2011 (251KB, PDF)
26 July 2011	Echuca Campaspe College of Adult Education, 103 – 109 Hare Street, Echuca	1:00pm	Public Sitting Transcript Echuca 26 July 2011 (150KB, PDF)
28 July 2011	Swan Hill Swan Hill Town Hall Meeting Room 2, Level 1, 53-57 McCallum Street, Swan Hill	10:00am	Public Sitting Transcript Swan Hill 28 July 2011 (173KB, PDF)