AUSTRALIA
Sky News
The Anglican Diocese of Grafton broke protocol by keeping files on child abuse allegations in its registry rather than referring them for independent scrutiny.
The diocese’s view that the attention of the professional standards director was not warranted in these cases was described during a royal commission hearing on Tuesday as demonstrating the diocese was not fully committed to investigating allegations.
The northern NSW diocese is the focus of hearings in Sydney as the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse looks at the response to claims of abuse at the North Coast Children’s Home in Lismore.
Former Anglican Diocese of Grafton acting registrar Anne Hywood told Tuesday’s public hearing a November 2012 audit identified matters in the registry that should have been referred to professional standards director Michael Elliot.
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