Why are we not holding the government accountable for sex abuse?

Public servants should be required to give evidence on the Government's role in allowing the sexual abuse of children in its care and should be called upon to produce documents relevant to these issues. What power does the Committee have to compel public servants to give evidence where the Minister orders them not to? What will is there on the part of politicians to ensure that the truth is revealed where there has been a failure to protect children under the watch of both sides of politics?

The terms of reference must be altered to include the role of Government in the handling of child sex abuse complaints. These investigations should be undertaken by a Royal Commission which would establish very clearly the independent nature of the inquiry.

Only a Royal Commission has full and direct powers to compel witnesses to appear and documentation to be provided. Witnesses who do not co-operate can be jailed.

We should not forget that the Cummins recommendation was clear insofar as it called for any inquiry to "have the power to compel the elicitation of witness evidence and of documentary and electronic evidence."