AUSTRALIA
ABC News
[with audio]
A Catholic Education boss has told the child abuse Royal Commission that the wholesale systemic failure of child protection policies led to students being exposed to a paedophile teacher. John Borserio says those policies have been improved but without advice from experts outside the Catholic system.
Transcript
MARK COLVIN: A Catholic Education boss has admitted that a wholesale systemic failure of child protection policies led to young girls being taught by a paedophile teacher.
John Borserio was the director of the Toowoomba Catholic Education Office when Gerard Byrnes sexually abused 13 girls in 2007 and 2008. Mr Borserio still holds that position.
He’s told the child abuse Royal Commission that he takes responsibility for failing to protect the students. He insists policies have since improved but without advice from experts outside the Catholic system.
Stephanie Smail reports.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: John Borserio had been the director of the Toowoomba Catholic Education Office for five years when Gerard Byrnes was arrested.
Today the Royal Commission heard the child protection policies Mr Borserio presided over failed in 2007 and 2008.
He acknowledged a complaint about Byrnes touching a student in 2007 wasn’t adequately investigated and other students were exposed to harm as a result.
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