Abuse royal commission: NSW puts off forcing priests to break seal of confession

The New South Wales Government says it is still considering a recommendation to force priests to reveal abuse they hear in the confessional, despite the federal government saying it is largely a state issue.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Source: AAP

The NSW government has announced its full response to the royal commission into institutional child sex abuse, either accepting or accepting in principle 336 of the 409 recommendations.

Some reforms have already been announced, including legislation to make it easier to sue institutions for child abuse, and a maximum life sentence for those convicted of repeated sex abuse.

The state government has also accepted a recommendation that all institutions should implement child safe standards identified by the royal commission.

"Adopting child safe standards more broadly will improve the safety and wellbeing of children," Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward said in a media release.

But the government is still considering a recommendation that mandatory reporting laws cover clergy who learn of abuse, or form suspicions, during religious confession.
Greens MP David Shoebridge said it was a major flaw in an otherwise positive response.

"It is deeply frustrating and disappointing that the NSW government continues to protect the damaging and archaic secrecy of the confessional," Mr Shoebridge said in a media release.

"The royal commission has reported on case after case where priests were repeatedly told of gross child abuse in the confessional and did nothing, allowing offenders to keep abusing children often for decades."


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