AUSTRALIA
Canberra Times
January 17, 2013
Harriet Alexander
THE head of the royal commission into child sexual abuse has described the task facing the body as ”huge” after the six commissioners met for the first time in Sydney on Wednesday.
Justice Peter McClellan said in order to run it as efficiently as possible, the government would amend the Royal Commission Act to allow hearings to take place without all commissioners present. Some hearings may need to be private to protect victims.
Speaking publicly for the first time since his appointment on Friday, Justice McClellan also sought to allay concerns some matters may be excluded from examination because of confidentiality agreements.
”We wish to emphasise that under the Royal Commission Act, the commission has powers to compel the production of evidence including documentation and we will not hesitate in appropriate circumstances to exercise those powers,” he said.
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