In January 2013 the Australian Government established the Royal Commission into
Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The terms of reference require
the Royal Commission to inquire as what should be done to eliminate or reduce
impediments that currently exist for responding appropriately to child sexual
abuse and related matters in institutional contexts, including addressing
failures in, and impediments to, reporting, investigating and responding to
allegations and incidents of abuse. Further, the Commission is directed to focus
on systemic issues and to be informed by an understanding of individual cases.
In November 2013 the Royal Commission held a public hearing into the Anglican
Diocese of Grafton's response to child sexual abuse at the North
Coast Children's Home and in October 2014 published its Report.