A report on ways the ACT community should respond to the recent Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has been released by the Attorney-General, Gordon Ramsay.
Mr Ramsay said Julie Dodds-Streeton had prepared the report on how to best implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission.
Mr Ramsay said he would be introducing a suite of criminal justice reforms.
“The Government acknowledges its responsibility to ensure that children are properly cared for, and to protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by institutions who look after them,” Mr Ramsay said.
“Justice Dodds-Streeton’s comprehensive report is based on extensive consultation with key ACT stakeholders, including church groups, police, organisations representing survivors of child sexual abuse, and a broad range of Government Agencies.”
He said the findings of the report included that the ACT should adopt a new offence for failing to report child sexual abuse to the police.
The report recommended the offence apply to all adults, subject to limited exceptions.
“The report also recommended that information disclosed in a religious confession should be subject to obligations to report,” Mr Ramsay said.
“This consultation has proven invaluable to guiding future law changes in the ACT in response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations, and ensuring these amendments are effective and won’t have any unintended consequences.”
Justice Dodds-Streeton’s 87-page report and 12-page appendix can be accessed at this PS News link.
