Inquiry to Examine Handling of Sex Abuse Complaints

By Alison Savage
774 ABC Melbourne
April 17, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-17/government-announces-church-sex-abuse-probe/3955414/?site=melbourne

The Victorian Government has announced a parliamentary inquiry into the way religious organisations handle sexual abuse complaints.

The inquiry comes after police revealed dozens of suicides across Victoria could be linked to abuse by members of the Catholic clergy.

It was also highlighted in the Cummins report on child protection released earlier this year.

Many victims' groups wanted a royal commission into the matter.

But the Government has stopped short of that, instead asking a cross-party parliamentary committee to hold an inquiry.

The inquiry will examine the way all religious groups handle child sex abuse allegations and could result in criminal charges.

The terms of reference include the examination of the practises, policies and protocols for handling such allegations.

The inquiry will also determine if there are practises that preclude or discourage the reporting of abuse and whether laws need to be changed to prevent abuse.

The Government says witnesses will be compelled to attend the hearings.

Attorney-General Robert Clark said the cost of a royal commission was not a factor in the decision.

"We concluded in the end that a parliamentary inquiry would be less intrusive, less formal, less legalistic," he said.

"It will provide greater flexibility for the way victims might want to present their stories."

He says that the inquiry will have a range of powers.

"A failure to give evidence to a parliamentary inquiry is in effect a contempt of Parliament," he said.

He says the Government had representations from different church groups who have indicated they will cooperate fully.

The Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, said last week that he would welcome an inquiry and the church would cooperate fully.

Common knowledge

Chrissie Foster, the mother of two abuse victims, says churches must be held accountable for what they have done and what they failed to do.

"I think it's common knowledge now, all around the world, what the church did. It heard about complaints and it moved the offender on," she said.

"These are our children and my daughter is dead because of that."

Her husband, Anthony Foster, says although the terms of reference for the inquiry did not specifically name the Catholic church, it is clear that it is the target of the inquiry.

Lawyer Dr Vivian Waller has represented hundreds of victims of sex abuse by members of the clergy.

She says there is a need for mandatory reporting laws to be extended to the church.

"Would you expect a school principal not to report allegations of sexual abuse upon a student? You wouldn't,' she said.

"No other organisation in this community considers themselves to be above or separate to the operation of the law."

The inquiry will run for one year, reporting to Parliament by April 30, 2012.