AUSTRALIA
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
May 23, 2019
Ministers of religion in Western Australia will soon have to report child sexual abuse — even if the information is gained under confession — under planned changes to the state’s laws.
Key points:
– Mandatory child sexual abuse reporting laws already apply to WA doctors, teachers and police
– The legislation will require religious leaders to report child sex abuse or face a $6,000 fine
-Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk said it’s reasonable to expect ministers of religion to report abuse
The WA Government said it expected to introduce the necessary amendments in the second half of this year.
Mandatory reporting laws in WA already apply to doctors, teachers, nurses, midwives, police and school boarding supervisors.
Anyone convicted of failing to report child sexual abuse faces a $6,000 fine.
The new requirements would apply to “recognised leaders within faith communities who are authorised to conduct, religious worship”, the WA Government said.
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