AUSTRALIA
The Australian
Child abuse inquiry says it’s ready to use powers to compel production of evidence
Rick Morton
From:The Australian
January 16, 2013
THE head of the royal commission into child sexual abuse says the inquiry won’t hesitate to exercise its powers to compel people and organisations to give evidence before it.
Justice Peter McClellan said the task before the commission, set up to investigate institutional responses to child sexual abuse, was complex, large and would take time.
Julia Gillard has given the six royal commissioners until December 2015 to complete their inquiry, with an interim report expected by June 2014.
Justice McClellan, speaking publicly for the first time since being appointed to head the royal commission, said there had been considerable public discussion about the powers of the commission to inquire into matters that were the subject of confidentiality agreements.
Some child abuse victims signed such agreements when settling claims against institutions.
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