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| Australia launches child sex abuse inquiry | Australia launches child sex abuse inquiry |
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| Australia has launched a national inquiry into allegations of child sex abuse in state and religious institutions and NGOs, a process in which more than 5,000 victims are likely to give evidence. | Australia has launched a national inquiry into allegations of child sex abuse in state and religious institutions and NGOs, a process in which more than 5,000 victims are likely to give evidence. |
| A panel of six commissioners launched the inquiry, known in Australia as a royal commission. Witnesses can be compelled to testify and risk imprisonment for lying. | A panel of six commissioners launched the inquiry, known in Australia as a royal commission. Witnesses can be compelled to testify and risk imprisonment for lying. |
| The inquiry was unlikely to achieve the late 2015 deadline set by the government because so many people wanted to give evidence, said Justice Pete McClellan, the commission's chairman. | The inquiry was unlikely to achieve the late 2015 deadline set by the government because so many people wanted to give evidence, said Justice Pete McClellan, the commission's chairman. |
| McClellan said he expected at least 5,000 people would want to give evidence, but the number could be much higher. | McClellan said he expected at least 5,000 people would want to give evidence, but the number could be much higher. |
| "The task we have is large; the issues are complex," he said. "But we are now in a position to actively begin the work of gathering the stories and examining the responses of institutions." | "The task we have is large; the issues are complex," he said. "But we are now in a position to actively begin the work of gathering the stories and examining the responses of institutions." |
| The prime minister, Julia Gillard, announced the commission in November in the face of a string of sexual abuse accusations against priests and claims of a Roman Catholic church cover-up. | The prime minister, Julia Gillard, announced the commission in November in the face of a string of sexual abuse accusations against priests and claims of a Roman Catholic church cover-up. |
| The New South Wales state government had ordered an inquiry a week earlier into allegations of a sexual abuse cover-up by Catholic priests in the Hunter Valley region north of Sydney. Victoria state officials had also begun investigating a separate series of priest sex abuse allegations in their state. | The New South Wales state government had ordered an inquiry a week earlier into allegations of a sexual abuse cover-up by Catholic priests in the Hunter Valley region north of Sydney. Victoria state officials had also begun investigating a separate series of priest sex abuse allegations in their state. |
| Since the federal inquiry was announced, more than 6,000 people have contacted staff in writing or by phone. | Since the federal inquiry was announced, more than 6,000 people have contacted staff in writing or by phone. |
| The government has offered free legal advice to people who want to make submissions to the inquiry before public hearings begin after September. | The government has offered free legal advice to people who want to make submissions to the inquiry before public hearings begin after September. |
| Gillard said the royal commission was an important "moral moment" for the country. | Gillard said the royal commission was an important "moral moment" for the country. |
| "It is going to require our country to stare some very uncomfortable truths in the face," she told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio. | "It is going to require our country to stare some very uncomfortable truths in the face," she told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio. |
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