Ballarat anger over child sex abuse royal commission hearings moving to Melbourne

AUSTRALIA
ABC News

Survivors of child sexual abuse in Ballarat are up in arms over the royal commission’s decision to move the hearings to Melbourne later this year.

The commission expects to hear from former bishop of Ballarat, Ronald Mulkearns, and Cardinal George Pell, when it continues its inquiry into Ballarat’s Catholic Church in November.

However, the Ballarat and District Survivors Group said it was not consulted on the decision and called for the hearings to be held in the city.

Spokesman Andrew Collins said it was an important part of the community’s healing process.

“The next step is to try and get the hearings moved to Ballarat or at least the bulk of the hearings here, otherwise it just won’t have the same impact,” he said.

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