Archbishop Stands by School Fee Refunds for Sex Abuse Victims

By Megan Drapalski
The Australian
November 21, 2015

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The Anglican Church in Brisbane has rejected allegations it was ­refusing to refund fees to former students who suffered abuse ­despite its “clear policy” to do so.

Brisbane Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall had said outside the royal commission into child sexual abuse in Brisbane last week that the church would reimburse school fees for any victim.

But when he appeared before the commission in Sydney yesterday, Dr Aspinall expressed surprise when he was told a senior church official had told an abuse victim on Monday that fees would not be refunded.

Dr Aspinall said any such ­exchange must have been the ­result of “miscommunication”.

Lawyer Kevin Kelso, representing abuse victims, suggested to Dr Aspinall that the policy was being ignored by the church’s professional standards office. 21, 2015