Australian PM gives national apology to child sex abuse victims

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Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to media after the official opening of the refurbished ANZAC Memorial in Sydney on October 20, 2018. – Australia’s embattled conservative coalition was bracing for defeat as polls opened in a crucial by-election with a loss set to snuff out its slim parliamentary majority. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

CANBERRA, Australia (AFP) — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Monday issued an emotive apology to children who suffered sexual abuse, saying the state had failed to protect them from “evil dark” crimes committed over decades.

“This was done by Australians to Australians, enemies in our midst, enemies in our midst,” Morrison told a parliamentary chamber in a televised speech, his voice trembling with emotion.

“As a nation, we failed them, we forsook them, and that will always be our shame.”

© Agence France-Presse