"Poor Response" for Vic Sex Victims

Adelaide Now
April 30, 2013

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/breaking-news/poor-response-for-vic-sex-victims/story-e6frea7l-1226632575091

THE Catholic Church has saved hundreds of millions of dollars through its Melbourne Response complaints system, but it has been a very poor result for clergy abuse victims, a father whose two daughters were abused says.

More than 300 victims of clergy abuse have made complaints through the Melbourne-based process, with the majority of those complaints upheld, the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into child abuse heard on Tuesday.

Victims' payments were initially capped at $50,000 under the system, but have now increased to $75,000.

But many victims have criticised the response, which was set up by Cardinal George Pell when he was Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996, saying the money is inadequate.

Anthony Foster, whose two daughters were raped by a priest, said the system had saved the Catholic Church in Melbourne at least $250 million, but had failed victims.

One of Mr Foster's daughters received $450,000 from the church in a private settlement, after they refused an offer under the Melbourne Response, the inquiry heard on Tuesday.

"It is not just about our girls, it is about all the other victims ... this is all about giving other victims access to the sort of compensation that our children finally achieved throughout all our work, because we were able to represent them," Mr Foster told reporters outside the inquiry on Tuesday.

"It is not set up to look after victims.

"It is set up to protect the Catholic Church and victims should have access to our legal system and to the wealth of the church through that legal system."

Melbourne Response independent commissioner Jeff Gleeson SC defended the system, saying it was independent, fair and detailed.

He said it gave victims an opportunity to have someone hear their allegations even if they did not want to go to police, but if they did wish to go to police they still could.

"I don't want to leave you with the impression that I'm saying this is a bullet-proof system and it's working perfectly every time. At the end of the day it is a human process," Mr Gleeson said.

"We try to do the right thing by victims."

Committee member Andrea Coote suggested many victims were unhappy with the process but Mr Gleeson said most complainants had not made submissions to the inquiry.

"I think that you'll find that about 30 to 40 people that have dealt with (Mr Gleeson's fellow commissioner) Peter O'Callaghan have come to see you, so 30 to 40 out of 330," he said.

The inquiry heard 330 people had made complaints to the Melbourne Response and 304 complaints had been upheld, involving 234 male and 70 female victims.