Edward Picton "Ted" Mullighan, QC (25 March 1939 – 16 September 2011) was an Australian judge who was known as an Indigenous rights advocate. He was known for his role as Commissioner of the Government of South Australia' Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry from 2004 to 2008.
Mullighan served as president of the South Australian Law Society for two years.[2]
He mentored young lawyers, and was known for promoting [[Reconciliation in Australia|Aboriginal reconciliation.[2]
. He was a member of the Commonwealth Legal Aid Review Committee, President of the Law Society of South Australia, and co-chair of Reconciliation SA.[citation needed]
Commission of Inquiry
Although retired, Mullighan accepted the role of Commissioner for the Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry.[2] This was initiated in November 2004 under the terms of the Commission of Inquiry (Children in State Care) Act 2004,[3] amended in 2007 by the Commission of Inquiry (Children in State Care and Children on APY Lands) Act 2004,[4] to include children in Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY lands).[2] and ordered an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of children under state guardianship, as well as allegations of criminal conduct resulting in the death of children in care. Its final report (also known as "the Mullighan Report"), published in March 2008, found "that in the past 65 years the State has failed to protect some of the children in its care from sexual abuse", and its record-keeping of the 924 children who had died while in state care was manifestly inadequate. The report included 54 recommendations, intended to improve many aspects of children in care. These included amendments to the Children’s Protection Act 1993, various improvements to the practices of Families SA, the creation of a Youth Council to directly advise the Minister for Families and Communities, and many others.[3][5][6][7] As a result of the report, 400 suspected abusers were reported to South Australia Police.[2]
Then Premier of South Australia, Mike Rann, said later that Mullighan had "managed to gain the confidence of a section of the community who had never before been able to speak about their experiences".[2]
Death and family
Mullighan died on 16 September 2011 in Adelaide, aged 72. His wife, Jan, and five sons survived him.[2]
References
^Elliott, Jack (2000). Memoirs of a Barrister. Adelaide: Wakefield Press. ISBN1-86254-522-7.
