In short:
Tasmania’s Anglican Church says its total estimated liability for historical child sexual abuse could climb to $80 million over the next 15 years.
The figure is more than double the church’s $36 million estimate from 2023.
What’s next?
Bishop Richard Condie says the church’s redress working group will meet to consider new options to find the additional funds needed, and that “everything is on the table”.
—–
The Tasmanian government on Saturday announced it was introducing new laws to make it easier for people to sue churches for abuse committed by priests and other religious leaders.
Dr Condie said he did not expect the new laws, which the government hopes to have in place by the end of the year, would affect the number of victim-survivors coming forward, but they could affect settlement amounts.
An important and wise step, hopefully it makes the Catholic church and other churches and Anglican dioceses think and plan.