Nsw Inquiry into Church Abuse "Not Enough"

SBS
November 9, 2012

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1709453/Calls-for-NSW-clergy-sex-abuse-inquiry

A special commission set to investigate allegations of child sex abuse by Catholic Church clergy in NSW's Hunter region does not go far enough, opposition parties say.

A special commission set to investigate allegations of child sex abuse by Catholic Church clergy in NSW's Hunter region does not go far enough, opposition parties say.

The commission, announced by Premier Barry O'Farrell on Friday, will be headed by NSW Deputy Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen.

It will examine claims made by Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox alleging child sex abuse at the hands of Catholic priests in the Hunter Valley.

It will also look into alleged cover-ups by members of the church and the police force.

Mr O'Farrell said the inquiry would not interfere with, or "corrupt", existing police investigations into child sex abuse in NSW.

He said while he had "full confidence" in Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and the police force, the matters raised were serious.

"They go to the question about whether there has been interface, either within the police force, or by the Catholic Church, in relation to specific allegations of pedophile activity in the Hunter," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

In an open letter to the premier published on Thursday, Det Insp Fox called for a full royal commission into alleged Church child sex abuse.

Mr O'Farrell, while stopping short of announcing a royal commission, said the inquiry would have the same powers.

However, Opposition Leader John Robertson said the inquiry does not go far enough.

"Any inquiry should look at how to better encourage victims and witnesses to come forward, how to better support victims and whether investigation processes are satisfactory," he said in a statement on Friday.

Greens MP David Shoebridge said the announcement was an "insult" to victims and failed to address wider issues.

"For the premier to limit his inquiry to the police's handling of sexual abuse claims in the Hunter region shows that he still doesn't understand the full extent of the problem," he said.

"This is a half-baked inquiry which will not silence those victims and survivors who are calling for justice from the state and the church."

The inquiry's terms of reference will be published early next week.

Mr O'Farrell said he would then decide whether further action would be taken.