Survivors of David Tuck initiate lawsuit against Eurobodalla Shire Council

Seven survivors of alleged abuse by David Tuck are suing the Eurobodalla Shire Council, claiming the local government breached its duty of care by failing to protect children during the late 1990s.

Tuck operated as a registered provider within the council’s Family Day Care scheme from 1994 until November 1999 in the Batemans Bay area. Survivors report that Tuck was a deeply embedded community figure who used his position and a four-wheel-drive vehicle to gain trust and take children on excursions.

While reports were made to authorities at the time, Tuck was never convicted of any offenses. He took his own life in 2001 as police investigations began. Survivors expressed frustration over the lack of public record regarding the incidents, with one survivor estimating that as many as 45 children may have been affected during his five years in Batemans Bay.