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  Calls for Immediate Probe

By Sue Bailey
news.com.au [Australia]
May 4, 2005

A CALL for an inquiry into an evil pedophile ring operating in Tasmania for more than 20 years is gathering momentum.

Lobby group Survivors Investigating Child Sex Abuse renewed the call yesterday after former Anglican archdeacon Louis Daniels pleaded guilty to 13 counts of interfering with young boys between 1973 and 1993.

SICSA spokesman Steve Fisher said there was compelling evidence that an organised pedophile ring operated in Tasmania in the 1970s and 1980s.

"We know that boys were taken to parties and there were sometimes priests, doctors and even MPs there," Mr Fisher said.

While it operated largely in Tasmania, Mr Fisher said it also involved the abuse of boys in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.

He referred to evidence in Daniels' hearing that a Brisbane boy travelled to Tasmania during his holidays and stayed with Daniels for several weeks.

"Priests would go to each other's houses and they would always take boys with them," Mr Fisher said.

"They were taken there for a purpose - they were sexually assaulted.

"Now, years later, they realise it was not their fault."

Premier Paul Lennon is expected to make an announcement on Ombudsman Jan O'Grady's inquiry into abuse of children in state care when he returns from overseas.

More than 600 people have come forward with complaints of abuse and funding for more support for victims could be provided in this month's State Budget.

The State Opposition yesterday supported SICSA's call for a full inquiry into child abuse in Tasmania. The Anglican Church also supported a state inquiry.

Mr Fisher, who was abused by convicted pedophile Anglican priest Garth Hawkins, said that while he preferred a national inquiry a Tasmanian inquiry would expose more pedophiles and help ease the suffering of survivors.

"It would need to have the right powers to subpoena witnesses and records including those from the Anglican Church," he said.

"It is time for the state to do something.

"We don't know the full extent of the problem of child sex abuse and we need to look at every facet. An inquiry would need the power to recommend that any institutions at fault would have to pay compensation to those who suffered."

Mr Fisher believed more people would come forward if there was a Tasmanian inquiry into abuse.

"Some victims have not been ready [to talk about their abuse] but community attitudes have shifted in the last two to three years," he said.

"They realise they were abused and it is not their fault."

Hawkins was jailed for sexually abusing eight teenage boys in the 1970s and 1980s and Daniels has already served 12 months in jail after a church inquiry into sexual misconduct.

Opposition health spokeswoman Sue Napier said it was five months since Ms O'Grady handed down her report on abuse of children in state care but the Government was dragging its heels on implementing a pedophile register to link to a national database.

Mrs Napier said an inquiry should examine current policies, practices and procedures.

Attorney-General Judy Jackson said if an organised pedophile ring operated across other states it was a matter for the Commonwealth.

"Where there have been sexual assaults in Tasmania I would encourage victims to contact the police and their matters will be fully investigated," Ms Jackson said.

"If persons have further knowledge of pedophiles operating in other states they should also contact the police."

 
 

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