Deadline for Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry Extended Again

ABC News
August 22, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-22/deadline-for-child-sexual-abuse-inquiry-extended-again/4906074


The State Government has again extended the reporting date for the special commission of inquiry into child sexual abuse in the Hunter.

Margaret Cunneen was originally due to report back in April but as the witness list lengthened that was pushed back until the end of next month.

The Premier Barry O'Farrell has told parliament he has now given Ms Cunneen until the end of February next year.

"While we all want the commission to report as soon as possible on these matters so that hopefully we can learn the lessons we should all agree that's it's obviously more important that the relevant matters are properly and thoroughly investigated," he said.

"No one wants any shortcuts when it comes to inquiries involving matters as serious as these."

Mr O'Farrell says earlier this week he received a request from Ms Cunneen for more time.

"I've agreed to recommend to her Excellency the Governor that the commission's report be presented on the 28th of February 2014," he said.

"This extension will ensure the special commission of inquiry has sufficient time to review the significant quantity of evidence now obtained and to prepare its report on its investigations and those inquiries."

The senior policeman who sparked the inquiry, Peter Fox says he is disappointed with the length of the extension.

"To be honest I did expect some sort of delay, I thought it was never going to be completed by the 30th of September deadline, but I thought maybe a month so," he said.

"But til February next year is really a long stretch of time and it's going to leave not just myself but a lot of others wondering what the final results are going to be for a much longer period than we ever anticipated."