AUSTRALIA
ABC – The World Today
[with audio]
The Royal Commission into institutional child sexual abuse is beginning to take form, with the Attorney-General revealing it will have the power to set up a special investigative unit to ensure any potential criminal cases that emerge during the inquiry are investigated and prosecuted quickly. Victims groups have welcomed the model, but say it may be more efficient for victims to go straight to police rather than raise their allegations with the Royal Commission.
Transcript
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: The Prime Minister is to announce the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse this afternoon.
Six commissioners will lead the huge inquiry, and the structure of the commission will be largely left up to them.
But the Attorney-General has already revealed the commission will have a special unit to ensure criminal allegations raised in the inquiry are investigated and prosecuted swiftly.
That’s being welcomed by victims groups but they’re warning victims they may be better off taking their cases straight to the police.
Lexi Metherell reports.
LEXI METHERELL: The Royal Commission’s role is not to make criminal prosecutions, but policy recommendations.
Nonetheless, the Government wants to ensure any potential criminal cases that emerge during the inquiry are investigated and prosecuted quickly.
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