GREENS Back Mcclellan Appointment

9 News
January 11, 2013

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/01/11/20/01/greens-back-mcclellan-appointment

The NSW Greens have backed Justice Peter McClellan's appointment as head of the royal commission into child sex abuse, saying he brings a "wealth and experience" to the role.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Friday that the commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse would be led by Justice McClellan AM, who is the Chief Judge at Common Law of the NSW Supreme Court.

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said in a statement that having the Justice McClellan as the chair "brings a wealth of experience and competence to the Commission".

Mr Shoebridge said he also supported the commission's terms of reference.

"We welcome the breadth of the terms of reference, including the specific reference to justice for victims of past and future abuse," he said.

"The terms of reference recognise the need to consider just and fair compensation and this is welcome."

The Greens also backed the government's decision to use six commissioners and run the inquiry over three years.

"This will allow victims to be heard and considered recommendations to be made," Mr Shoebridge added.

Justice McClellan will be assisted on the commission by former Queensland police commissioner Bob Atkinson, former Victorian president of the Children's Court Justice Jennifer Coate, Productivity Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald, consultant psychiatrist Professor Helen Milroy and former West Australian senator Andrew Murray.

The commissioners, to be appointed for three years, will be asked to provide an interim report within 18 months.