AUSTRALIA
Courier Mail
THE royal commission into child sex abuse will have the power to over-ride confidentiality agreements, potentially exposing protected religious leaders.
In a move welcomed by victims groups, commission chair Justice Peter McClellan yesterday said he would not hesitate to exercise legal powers to “compel the production of evidence”.
The clarification comes after public concern that victims with non-disclosure agreements with institutions would not be able to tell their stories.
“Under the Royal Commission Act, the commission has powers to compel the production of evidence, including documents, and we will not hesitate in an appropriate case to exercise those powers,” Justice McClellan said.
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