Submissions to Close for Royal Commission Terms

ABC News
November 26, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-26/abuse-royal-commission-term-submissions-close/4391506

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference says the commission should focus on preventing future abuse and healing.

[with audio]

Church leaders and victim support groups are among those to suggest what terms of reference should be adopted for the royal commission into institutional child sexual abuse.

The deadline for submissions into the royal commission's terms of reference passes today.

A submission from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference says the commission should focus on preventing future abuse, promoting healing for past victims and identifying systemic institutional failures.

The bishops are meeting this week to discuss the church's response to the royal commission and other matters.

Conference president Archbishop Denis Hart says victims must also be allowed to choose to give evidence in private.

"They must be able to tell their story frankly and without fear, for the good of all," he said.

Bringing perpetrators to justice is not mentioned in the submission, but Archbishop Hart says they also believe that should happen.

"We are as concerned as everyone else in the community that the protection of our children and avoidance of abuse is a top priority," he said.

"Certainly, the bishops believe that anyone who has done wrong should face the appropriate consequences."

Archbishop Hart says there has been a lot of attention on the Catholic Church, which it must face squarely.

"I welcome the Royal Commission because it will enable these matters to be faced by all of us, it will enable the victims to tell their story, and it will enable us as church and community together to really do our best to put in place regimes for the future that will care for our children and avoid these awful events of which we've heard more recently," he said.

Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse allegations is on the agenda at the bishops' conference and church payments to victims will also be discussed.

Victims support group Broken Rites says the commission must be given substantial resources to aid prosecutions.

"[The commission should] assemble the evidence and then hand that to the state police," spokesman Wayne Chamley said.

The final terms of reference are expected to be ready by Christmas.