Eren recalls abuse shock

Apology to child molester’s victims

LARA MP John Eren has spoken of his “great sadness” after the State Government apologised to Puffing Billy sex abuse victims.

Serial paedophile Robert Whitehead was allowed to work with children at the popular Dandenongs tourist railway despite earlier being jailed for abusing a young boy.

The Government this week formally apologised to historical child sex abuse victims who were assaulted at railways across Victoria, including Puffing Billy.

Mr Eren was the tourism minister when this matter was brought to his attention.

Speaking in parliament, an emotional Mr Eren said he hoped the apology would assist with the healing process and the victims found comfort knowing they were heard and believed.

“One of the reasons I became an MP is to help those who needed help and to try and find justice for those who have been so aggrieved,” he said.

“Being briefed and hearing the horrific details had a profound impact on me.

“I can only imagine the trauma the victims had and continued to go through.

“To hear that Puffing Billy, which is remembered as such a historical family attraction for many, shaped the lives of many innocent young boys in a very different way is truly saddening.”

Mr Eren described the inaction of people in authority as “inexcusable”.

“A board member warned his son but not other boys,” he said.

“Puffing Billy’s management told us that they could not remove Whitehead on rumour in 1985, yet it seems they were able to do so in 1991.”

Mr Eren said the personal apologies he made as minister had a profound impact on him.

“Hearing first-hand the hurt and pain in their voices although many years had passed,” he said.

“Some felt guilty, some felt betrayal, some felt a sense of relief that finally their voices were being heard.

“Some were grateful that action was finally being taken and they were vindicated.”

Ombudsman Deborah Glass highlighted “monumental” failures by those in charge of Puffing Billy and groups including Victorian Railways, dating to the 1960s, saying they valued reputational protection over the welfare of child victims.

Her investigation found Victorian Railways re-employed Whitehead after he was convicted of child sex offences in 1959, but chose not to monitor him, meaning he had unrestricted access to young volunteers for decades.

Whitehead died in jail in 2015 after pleading guilty to 24 charges.