AUSTRALIA
The Courier
By TOM COWIE Feb. 26, 2014
CLERGY sex abuse survivors have welcomed the visit to Ballarat by officers from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The officers were in Ballarat yesterday for informal meetings with community groups and service providers to share information about the work of the Royal Commission.
The initial meetings will be followed by a visit to the region by Royal Commissioners, including the chairman, next month.
Clergy sex abuse survivor Andrew Collins said for him the consultation was about finding out what the plans were for the Royal Commission in Ballarat.
“I’m really glad it’s something that is being taken very seriously. There’s a lot of planning going into it,” he said. “They did make it obvious that they realise that Ballarat is one of the hotspots for abuse in Australia. “
So far, the Royal Commission has not said if it will hold public hearings in Ballarat.
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