Commissioners to Start Work Immediately

ABC
January 11, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-11/commissioners-to-start-work-immediately/4461658?section=act

[with audio]

The mammoth job of the six eminent Australians leading the Royal Commission in to child sexual abuse begins within days. They'll have their first meetings next week, and will have to decide deciding how the commission will be structured. The terms of reference leave it up to the commissioners to decide who gives evidence, which public and private organisations it wants to examine, and if and who should pay compensation.

SALLY SARA: It's the announcement that thousands of sexual abuse victims have waited decades for.

The Prime Minister has unveiled the details of the Royal Commission into institutionalised sexual abuse.

Six eminent Australians have been appointed and will begin work next week.

The commissioners, led by the New South Wales Supreme Court Judge Peter McClellan, will hold a phone hook-up on Monday and meet on Tuesday.

Among the first order of business will be deciding on the structure of the commission.

The Government's set an initial timetable of three years for the inquiry but it's yet to reveal the budget.

Lexi Metherell reports.

LEXI METHERELL: The Prime Minister today received approval for the establishment of the Royal Commission from the Governor-General.

Julia Gillard says it's a chance for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse to feel Australia is listening.

JULIA GILLARD: To those survivors of child sexual abuse today we are able to say we want your voices to be heard, even if you've felt for all of your life that no one's listened to you, that no one has taken you seriously, that no one has really cared, the Royal Commission is an opportunity for your voice to be heard.

LEXI METHERELL: Six eminent Australians have been appointed to the commission for three year terms. They represent a range of skills and states.

The New South Wales Supreme Court Judge Peter McClellan will be the chief commissioner. He'll be joined by the former Queensland police commissioner Bob Atkinson, the Victorian Family Court Judge Jennifer Coate, a member of the Productivity Commission Robert Fitzgerald, the child psychiatrist and University of Western Australia Professor Helen Milroy and the former West Australian senator Andrew Murray.

Part of their job will be deciding how the commission will be structured. There are likely to be public and private hearings and all commissioners won't have to be present at once.

The terms of reference leave it up to the commissioners to decide who gives evidence, which public and private organisations it wants to examine, and the details of compensation.

The Attorney-General Nicola Roxon.

NICOLA ROXON: It can require people to present before it and there are a range of complex issues about concerns that people have flagged with confidentiality agreements that might have been struck before. These issues will need to be addressed by the commission.

They do have far reaching powers that enable them to override those agreements or indeed to issue immunities but it would be pure speculation which we're not prepared to make now, whether the commission will indeed take that approach or not.

LEXI METHERELL: The commission will have the power to set up a special investigative unit to liaise between the commission and police so criminal allegations that do arise are investigated and prosecuted quickly.

Nicola Roxon emphasises though the commission's task is to provide advice to government not to make prosecutions.

NICOLA ROXON: We understand, however, that many of these matters are from a long time ago. Some people have hesitations in going to the police. And we do think that the importance of the work of the commission will mean many people will come forward to the commission and may want and indeed need assistance in referring to the matter to the police.

So we have asked the commissioners in the terms of reference to consider how they will carefully liaise with police forces across the country.

LEXI METHERELL: The victims groups that have for so long called for such an inquiry will play a key role in the commission and the Families Minister Jenny Macklin says they'll get government help.

JENNY MACKLIN: We're working through the funding arrangements right now, but we certainly do understand that there will be increased demands on organisations that have been advocates and supporters of those who are victims or survivors of child sexual abuse.

LEXI METHERELL: The details announced today have the Opposition's full support.

The shadow attorney-general George Brandis.

GEORGE BRANDIS: We've examined the terms of reference published by the Government today. They seem to us to be very comprehensive and that means that there is no area of child sexual abuse in an institutional context which has been withheld from the purview of the inquiry.

We are happy about that we think the inquiry should examine all areas of institutional and sexual abuse of children and we think these terms of reference give it the flexibility and scope to do that.

LEXI METHERELL: The commissioners have been given until the end of 2015 to deliver their final report. In an interim report due at the 18 month mark, they'll be required to say if they need the commission to go beyond three years.

SALLY SARA: Lexi Metherell reporting from Canberra.