AUSTRALIA
Washington Post
Australian child sex abuse inquiry chief says more than 5,000 victims likely to testify
By Associated Press
Updated: Wednesday, April 3
MELBOURNE, Australia — The head of an Australia-wide commission looking into allegations of child sex abuse in state and religious institutions as well as community groups said more than 5,000 victims are likely to give evidence of their harrowing experiences.
Justice Pete McClellan chairs a bench of six commissioners who on Wednesday started a powerful government-appointed inquiry known in Australia as a Royal Commission. Witnesses can be compelled to testify and risk imprisonment for lying.
The inquiry was unlikely to achieve its deadline set by the government of late 2015 because so many people wanted to give evidence, he said.
McClellan said he expected at least 5,000 people will want to give evidence, but the actual number could be much higher.
“The task we have is large; the issues are complex,” McClellan said.
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