Today, Scott Morrison will make a national apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. It is not a hollow gesture, argues Daryl Higgins.

The purpose of this paper is to seek feedback on proposed options for reforms to Territory laws being considered by the Department of the Attorney-General and Justice, in response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations regarding the duties and liability of institutions and the identification of defendants.

One of the major consequences of the abuse crisis has been the loss of trust in Church leadership and their moral influence. One of the great challenges for the future will be the restoration of that trust.

Catholic leaders have responded to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and have vowed that the Church’s shameful history will never be repeated.

The Victorian government acknowledges findings of historical abuse within state government institutions and the ongoing psychological and physical harm suffered by many survivors. The Victorian government is taking responsibility to ensure that these failures to protect children never happen again.