Greens MP calls for release of Special Commission report

ABC News
May 25, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-26/greens-mp-calls-for-release-of-special-commission-report/5476808

NSW Greens MLC, David Shoebridge is calling for the release of the Special Commission report

Greens MP David Shoebridge is urging the State Government not to delay the release of a report on the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse in the Hunter.

Commissioner Margaret Cunneen is due to hand her report to the governor this week after being granted three extensions, due to a growing witness list and extra hearings.

The inquiry looked at claims police and the Catholic Church covered up abuse by two Maitland-Newcastle paedophile priests, James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden

Green MP David Shoebridge says the report should be made public as soon as possible.

"I look forward to reading the report, but I have to say I think the real business of uncovering child abuse and the institutional failures in response to child abuse the real business of that hasn't been conducted in this Hunter inquiry, it's been done in the federal royal commission which many people have a great deal more comfort with," he said.

Mr Shoebridge is concerned the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse in the Hunter could stop other whistleblowers from speaking up.

He says he is eagerly awaiting the findings in the report.

"My hope is for a balanced and considered report that thoroughly investigates the failures of the church and they are legion in terms of dealing with this issue of child abuse," he said.

"But also the adequacies or inadequacies of the police response.

"But what I am most concerned with is instead of that we'll get a one-eyed attack on the whistleblower Peter Fox."