AUSTRALIA
ABC News

[with audio]

The child abuse royal commission has heard from the former principal of a Toowoomba primary school where 13 girls were abused by their teacher. Terry Hayes says he knew he was dealing with serious allegations of sexual abuse but referred the matter to his superiors and not to police.

Transcript

MARK COLVIN: The child abuse royal commission today heard from the former principal of a Toowoomba primary school where a teacher abused 13 little girls.

The public hearing in Brisbane heard that the principal received a complaint from the father of a girl about how her teacher Gerard Byrnes had touched her in 2007.

The principal at the time, Terry Hayes, says he knew he was dealing with serious allegations of sexual abuse. But he referred the matter to his superiors and not to police.

The inquiry has also heard the girl was asked…