AUSTRALIA
The Age
Harriet Alexander
The head of the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse has described the task facing the body as “huge” after the six commissioners met for the first time in Sydney on Wednesday.
Justice Peter McClellan said that in order to run it as efficiently as possible, the Government would amend the Royal Commission Act to allow hearings to take place without all commissioners being present, and some hearings may need to be held in private to protect victims.
Speaking publicly for the first time since his appointment on Friday, Justice McClellan also sought to allay concerns that some matters may be excluded from examination by the commission because of confidentiality agreements.
“We wish to emphasize that under the Royal Commission Act the commission has powers to compel the production of evidence including documentation and we will not hesitate in appropriate circumstances to exercise those powers,” Justice McClellan said.
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