Royal Commission's Start Is Itself a Blessing

By Peter Fox
News.com.au
April 3, 2013

http://www.news.com.au/opinion/royal-commissions-start-a-blessing/story-fnh4jt54-1226611453045

FORMER NSW Detective Inspector Peter Fox's decision to blow the whistle on a Catholic Church cover-up of child sexual abuse was the catalyst for Julia Gillard's announcement of the Royal Commission, which starts today.

I am absolutely delighted that this day has finally come. A lot of people have been waiting for so long for something like this to happen.

I realise that the hard evidence will be a long slow process, but just to see it begin is fantastic.

Through various means about six or eight of childhood sexual abuse victims have contacted me since I spoke out in November and I have steered them in the right direction to get help.

But the start of this Royal Commission means that a lot more people will now be prepared to come forward.

This has been a very difficult subject for a very long time and a lot of people have kept it as a deep dark secret.

Julia Gillard’s announcement of the Royal Commission has effectively said: if you want to come forward we will listen. It means so much to people because when you're not believed and you've kept these deep dark secrets for so long ... it's not their fault, but for a long time they have thought or been told that it was.

I have been privy to some things that weren’t done right in the past. The Wood Royal Commission (in NSW) into police corruption also looked at sexual abuse as well. Sadly it never had the right systems set up for counselling and looking after the welfare of the victims.

This Royal Commission has been set up correctly from the start. It is very important to get that part right. It will be very hard for some people to speak out. I have sat there with victims before and I know how hard it is to tell their stories.

There will be some people who elect not to, and this Royal Commission has already said it will have some of its in camera, behind closed doors.

I think it has got the formula right.

There are certainly those who are being left out of the Royal Commission. It is very difficult to find the right balance.

Those who were abused in their homes don’t fall under the terms of reference.

But I feel quite positive that a lot of what comes out of this Royal Commission will help those people as well so they should not give up hope.