Australian Indigenous Ministries apologises to sexual abuse victims

AUSTRALIA
ABC – PM

MARK COLVIN: The head of the evangelical group which ran the Retta Dixon Home in the Northern Territory has apologised to former residents of the notorious Indigenous children’s mission.

But it says the group can’t afford to pay financial compensation.

Reverend Trevor Leggott today faced the child abuse royal commission, which has been looking at allegations of severe physical and sexual abuse at the home.

Trevor Leggott told the commission that, despite running Australian Indigenous Ministries for the last 18 years, the first he had heard of the severity of sexual and physical abuse was this year.

He told the commission that while AIM had more than $4 million in property assets, it would be impossible to sell them to raise money for compensation.

Will Ockenden reports.

WILL OCKENDEN: Reverend Trevor Leggott has been the head of Australian Indigenous Ministries (or AIM) for 18 years, taking the top job in 1996.

Reverend Leggott began giving evidence early this afternoon, but before answering questions he asked to make a general statement.

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