AUSTRALIA
Brisbane Times

[with video]

November 13, 2012

Phillip Coorey, Josephine Tovey

JULIA GILLARD has launched the most comprehensive inquiry into child sexual abuse in Australia’s history with a nationwide royal commission to investigate churches, charities, state governments, schools, community organisations and even the police.

After fresh allegations last week about systemic abuses and cover-ups by the Catholic Church in NSW, federal cabinet agreed late on Monday to establish a commission that would look at the sexual abuse of children inside institutions and the frequent and often deliberate failure to do anything about it.

”Any instance of child abuse is a vile and evil thing,” the Prime Minister said.

”Child abuse is a vile and evil thing” … Julia Gillard announcing the commission. Photo: Channel Ten

”There have been too many adults who have averted their eyes to this evil.