Inquiry into Child Abuse and Cover-Ups

By Gemma Jones and Andrew Clennell
The Daily Telegraph
November 12, 2012

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/inquiry-into-child-abuse-and-cover-ups/story-e6freuy9-1226515451117

[with video]

ABUSE of children and subsequent cover-ups by churches and others will be investigated by a sweeping royal commission, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced last night.

The historic inquiry was prompted amid mounting pressure, following NSW Police Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox's claims the Catholic church had hindered police, destroyed evidence and moved offending priests in relation to child abuse investigations.

Ms Gillard said the commission, which could stretch on for years, would look at all church groups, all schools, public entities, and private, not-for-profit and community groups.Ms Gillard said there had been too many adults who had "averted their eyes" from the issue and a systematic failure of abused children called for a national response through a royal commission.

"Over the past few weeks we've seen revelations in the newspapers which really go to the question of cover-up, of other adults not doing what they should have done to come to assist," she said.

"Child abuse, child sexual abuse is a vile thing, it is done by evil people.

"What we have seen, too ... it's not just the evil of the people who do it, there has been a systemic failure to respond to it and to better protect children.

"I particularly want to get the insights to what will stop that systemic failure happening again."

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon will work with states on terms of reference, with a commission to be appointed by the end of the year, ready to start work in 2013.

Ms Gillard spoke with Cardinal George Pell yesterday before making the announcement and said he had "indicated that he's taking a very co-operative attitude".

She also told Premier Barry O'Farrell and Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu about how the commission could work in tandem with state inquiries, including a special commission of inquiry into abuse in the Hunter region.

There is also a parliamentary inquiry running in Victoria.

"I welcome the Prime Minister's announcement. These heinous offences don't stop at state boundaries," Mr O'Farrell said last night.

The announcement came after pressure was heaped on Ms Gillard, with government Whip Joel Fitzgibbon backing a royal commission as the only way to ensure no child sex abuse was going unpunished.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd lent his support for a royal commission and Finance Minister Penny Wong had earlier called for a "full, frank and fearless" inquiry.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said yesterday afternoon the Coalition would support a royal commission if the government called one.

He said it should be wider than looking only at the Catholic church, saying: "Any investigation must be wide-ranging ... and should not be limited to the examination of any one institution.

"It's clear that for a long period there was insufficient awareness and insufficient vigilance when it came to predatory behaviour by people in positions of authority over children.

"A lot of terrible things have been done, and a lot of people have suffered deeply."

Independent MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott had also called for the commission. "We all should be deeply concerned when the powerful and politically influential interfere in police investigations," Mr Oakeshott said.

The commission would not be connected to compensation payments, Ms Gillard said.