Inquiry Launched into Child Abuse

By Anthea Cannon
Geelong Advertiser
April 18, 2012

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2012/04/18/320495_news.html

GEELONG victims and advocates have welcomed a parliamentary inquiry into child abuse by religious and charity groups as the first step to justice.

The State Government yesterday announced the "broad" bi-partisan inquiry, which will investigate alleged mental, physical and sexually abusive practices, the organisations' handling of reports and any reforms.

However, lawyer Angela Sdrinis, who has worked for more than a decade fighting for alleged victims of Geelong and Colac orphanages said the parliamentary inquiry was "a wishy, washy response" and called for a Royal Commission.

The region had more than five religious orphanages running during last century, and several schools. Care Leavers Australia Network executive officer, and Geelong resident, Leonie Sheedy was overjoyed that more than a decade of lobbying had paid off. She said the group had protested on the steps of parliament every month since 2007.

"It will give people a chance to unburden their hearts, and be believed, listened to and acknowledged, and justice must prevail," she said.

"The shame has to be lifted and must be placed where it is deserved.

"There will never be 100 per cent healing but there can be validation, acknowledgement and reparation. The pain will be with us until the day they put the lid on the coffin."

Ms Sheedy encouraged the many "decent" staff to come forward and give evidence as well as victims who had long-buried their memories.

"I feel confident that good will come from this inquiry. People need to be charged, regardless of age, because they didn't care about ours," she said.

Ms Sdrinis said Victoria Police had already acknowledged the reluctance of the church to assist in criminal cases and said the inquiry was not decisive enough.

"I've not been able to find anyone who's been jailed for refusing to comply with a parliamentary inquiry while a royal commission has all the power of the courts," she said.

"Whether it will have significant weight is the big question.

"Is it better than nothing? Absolutely and I am grateful. But is it enough? No."

Ms Sdrinis said the State Government needed to send a clear message and act on recommendations from the inquiry.

"If there's not a decisive outcome, it'll have been a waste of time," she said.

"It may help individual legal cases if material is produced to prove allegations and the committee could make a recommendation to parliament to overcome the technical legal defences used by the church."

Attorney General Robert Clark said the government wanted to ensure victims felt comfortable in coming forward and telling their stories, and a parliamentary committee, rather than a royal commission, would provide the best environment to do that.

He said the committee would still have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence and produce documents.

The Melbourne Catholic Archbishop, the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne and Uniting Church all issued statements welcoming the inquiry and pledging their full co-operation and offering assistance to any victims.

"I am convinced that such an inquiry will clear the air around this painful and distressing issue of sexual abuse in Victoria," Most Reverend Denis Hart said.

"We have nothing to hide from such an independent inquiry, and I am confident that any inquiry into the Archdiocese's Melbourne Response process will confirm this."

Uniting Church Moderator Isabel Thomas Dobson has previously unreservedly apologised for past practices.

Contact: anthea.cannon@geelongadvertiser.com.au