MEDIA RELEASE

NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL  

11th June 2004

ARCHBISHOP’S RESIGNATION: AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE JOURNEY OF HEALING FOR VICTIMS

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon welcomes the resignation of Anglican Archbishop Ian George, calling it an “important step in the process of healing for the victims of sexual abuse that were let down by the church in the past”.

“It has been 13 months since Rev Don Owers came to see me for help in exposing the failings of his church as an institution to adequately deal with the evil of child sex abuse within the institution of the Anglican Church. Without his courage, supported by his colleague Reverend Andrew King and others, the subsequent debate within the church and independent inquiry would not have occurred.”

“Archbishop George’s resignation should not be seen as lessening the need for the church as an institution to implement fundamental changes to ensure that child abuse does not occur under its watch, but, if tragically it does,  it is dealt with with ruthless speed against the perpetrators and with unbridled compassion towards the victims.”

Written and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075