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Church Sex Abuse Inquiry Won't Do Justice: Victims

By Barney Zwartz
The Age
April 19, 2012

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/church-sex-abuse-inquiry-wont-do-justice-victims-20120418-1x7o4.html

SUICIDE among survivors of clergy abuse could rise sharply if the parliamentary inquiry announced on Tuesday is inadequate, victims spokeswoman Nicky Davis warned yesterday.

Many victims who rejoiced at Premier Ted Baillieu's announcement that a parliamentary committee would examine the Catholic Church's handling of abuse allegations have since resolved to keep fighting for a judicial inquiry.

Justice Bernard Teague, who chaired the last royal commission in Victoria, said a parliamentary inquiry could be fine if party politics were kept out, but Liberal MP David Southwick demanded that Labor member Frank McGuire step down from the committee.

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Mr McGuire, one of six MPs on the Family and Community Development Committee appointed to run the sexual abuse inquiry, said on Tuesday night that it was the wrong body and an eminent QC or judge should conduct it.

Mr Southwick tweeted yesterday: "I have just spoken in Parliament calling on Frank McGuire to resign from his committee position if he does not support its work."

Ms Davis, of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said if the inquiry was not serious, it would lead to more suicides. "Every victim has that battle with suicide … if they are blocked again it could push some over the edge," she said.

"After the unadulterated joy of thinking, at last we will be listened to and not drowned out by church lies, comes the realisation we have been set up and given a poisoned chalice.

"We are going to try to all work together to fight this, and to get it changed to something with at least a chance of justice."

Four of the six members of the committee have less than 18 months' experience, and it is already conducting two other inquiries, one of which is five months late. It is due to report in April next year.

Mr Baillieu yesterday said the government would make sure the committee had the resources it needed.

"I'm confident that parliamentary committees have the powers and the capacity; it's been demonstrated in other jurisdictions and I'm confident they'll be able to do it here."

Justice Teague said a royal commission was never likely because of the cost and complexity. But a judicial inquiry - such as those into the Director of Public Prosecutions and police organisation - would have been a viable alternative.




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