AUSTRALIA
ABC News
[with audio]
In its final report, the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations has condemned the Catholic Church for trivialising the problem, failing to hold perpetrators accountable and keeping allegations from the public. The Church has accepted some of the criticism and says it will consider the report’s recommendations carefully.
Transcript
MARK COLVIN: The Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into child sexual abuse has condemned the Catholic Church for protecting offenders, trivialising abuse and keeping the details from the public.
The inquiry tabled its final report today. It recommends a dramatic overhaul of the handling of abuse in the state’s religious and secular organisations.
The Catholic Church has accepted many of the report’s findings and says it will consider the recommendations carefully. They include setting up an independent scheme to compensate victims and making it a criminal offence to put a child in danger.
The Victorian Government says it will start drafting legislation to make some of the changes immediately.
Samantha Donovan reports.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: After nearly 600 submissions and more than 150 hearings, the committee conducting the inquiry tabled its report in the Victorian Parliament today.
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