SIR, – I am pleased to report to The Weekly Advertiser readers a significant change to the law which I believe will better protect children.
Under the law passed in Parliament last week, religious and spiritual leaders must report child abuse to authorities, even if it was heard in the confessional.
The new law delivers on a key election commitment and means people in religious ministries are now mandated reporters to child protection and the confessional seal must be lifted for suspected sexual abuse of children.