Abuse Royal Commission Sits on Wednesday

By Patrick Caruana
The West Australian
April 2, 2013

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/national/16490408/abuse-royal-commission-sits-on-wednesday/

The royal commission into institutional sexual abuse will begin on Wednesday, but the flood of victims' stories will have to wait.

No evidence will be tendered at the first sitting in Melbourne of the commission to examine institutional responses to abuse.

Instead, its chair, Justice Peter McClellan, will outline how the commission will conduct its hearings and counsel assisting the commission, Gail Furness SC, will make an opening statement.

Chris Wilding, who founded victims' group Broken Rites in 1992, said it would be a significant day for survivors of abuse.

"It's certainly very exciting for me to see this happen after 20 years of exposing these sorts of crimes," she told AAP on Tuesday.

Ms Wilding said she was hopeful of legislative changes and constructive outcomes from the commission.

"It's time to see more than just words," she said.

Senior figures of the Catholic Church should be held accountable for ignoring or covering up sexual abuse, Ms Wilding said.

"They must be made to understand that the rules they need to follow are made in Australia, and not the Vatican," she said.

Justice McClellan has said it will be some time before any public hearings are held.

He said he had taken the unusual step of conducting a preliminary sitting only to publicly explain the complex process involved in establishing the commission.

Newly passed laws mean the commission will be able to take evidence and information during private hearings.

The commission is expected to provide an interim report by the end of June 2014.