AUSTRALIA
The Australian

THERE are traumatic times ahead for child sexual abuse victims as the royal commission swings into action, Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned.

But eventually, the inquiry’s recommendations will hopefully bring healing to the Australian nation, Ms Gillard told child sex abuse survivors today.

A day after she announced the appointments to the royal commission into child sexual abuse in institutions, Ms Gillard met with about 30 child sexual abuse survivors and advocates at Kirribilli House in Sydney.

“Yesterday’s announcement is a tribute to you for having sustained that campaign after many, many long years,” Ms Gillard told them. “I can’t promise you there are easy days ahead … I suspect there are some very traumatic days ahead as people come and tell what happened to them, many of them for the very first time.”