Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse...

By Phillip Hudson
The Australian
November 19, 2012

www.theaustralian.com.au/news/royal-commission-into-child-sexual-abuse-will-be-asked-to-suggest-new-rules-and-preventive-action/story-e6frg6n6-1226519894345

The Government says the royal commission, announced last week by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, will not be a police-style investigation but is likely to go further than any inquiry conducted in Australia

Royal commission into child sexual abuse will be asked to suggest new rules and preventive action

THE royal commission into child sexual abuse will be asked to suggest new rules to prevent future attacks, procedures to follow when allegations are raised and how to deal with abuse that has occurred.

A discussion paper released by the Federal Government also says the commission can suggest new laws as well as policies to make government agencies better able to respond.

It will also be asked to identify roadblocks inside institutions and organisations that prevent proper notification and investigation of claims.

State governments will be asked to hand over information to ensure no individual, institution or organisation "can avoid scrutiny".

The inquiry may also make findings about counselling and support for victims and their families.

The Government says the royal commission, announced last week by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, will not be a police-style investigation but is likely to go further than any inquiry conducted in Australia.

But the discussion paper released by Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and acting Families Minister Brendan O'Connor suggests the commission will be given a deadline and asked to make regular reports as it is expected to involve "potentially thousands of victims and hundreds of organisations" (and) "take years rather than months".

Submissions from the states, churches and any other organisation or person about the terms of reference should be lodged in writing by Monday.

The discussion paper says the commission will not look at sexual abuse within families and urges such abuse be reported to police. The commission will focus on sexual abuse in public and private organisations and institutions.

The Government said victims would be given the chance to "share their experiences" and would help influence recommendations.

But it said "royal commissions are not substitutes for criminal investigations and statements made to a royal commission cannot be used in subsequent court proceedings".

It will be able to refer matters to police.

The Government favours having more than one commissioner to give the inquiry "a diverse range of skills and experience" and said it might have hearings at the same time in different parts of the country.

"The proposed royal commission is likely to go further than any inquiry conducted in Australia before, due to geographic scale and the time period over which the child sexual abuse is reported to have occurred in institutions,'' said the discussion paper.

There is no direct mention of compensation but the discussion paper says there should be no obstacles to people making claims.

The government says it will meet with states, child abuse survivor groups, community, legal and religious organisations in the next two weeks.

It plans to announce the terms of reference and appoint commissioners before the end of the year.