Tasmanian Abuse Law Puts Priests on Notice

By Matthew Denholm
The Australian
September 13, 2019

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Tasmanian priests have been warned they face prosecution for failing to report child abuse disclosed during confession, after the state’s upper house passed “nation leading” laws.

Tasmania’s legislation, passed by the Legislative Council on Wednesday, means it joins South Australia, Victoria and the ACT in mandating that clergy must ­report abuse, even when disclosed in confession.

Queensland and Western Australia are proceeding down a similar legislative path, recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Tasmanian Attorney-General Elise Archer said the laws were the first tabled in Australia.

Amid Catholic Church threats to defy them, Ms Archer warned those found to have done so faced prosecution, with penalties ­including fines of up to $3360 and jail terms of up to 21 years, in ­theory at least.