Councillor reveals his own abuse amid push for mandatory reporting
In a debate over mandatory reporting laws and religious institutions, a City of Melbourne councillor has revealed he was abused while at boarding school.
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A City of Melbourne councillor has revealed that he was sexually abused as a child during an emotional debate about mandatory reporting laws and religious institutions.
Cr Nicolas Frances Gilley, who is an Anglican priest, said that he was abused while at boarding school.
However, an emotional Cr Frances Gilley said this was not why he had put up a motion that the city council identify places of worship that didn’t comply with new state government laws to mandatorily report child abuse.
“Our role...is about safeguarding children,” he told a council meeting tonight.
Cr Frances Gilley substantially watered down his original motion after a backlash from some other councillors and wider concern that it was directed at the Catholic Church.
The councillor, who said he was no longer a practising Anglican priest, had referred to reported comments by Melbourne Catholic Archbishop Peter Comensoli that he would not break the confessional seal if someone admitted to abusing children.
However, Cr Frances Gilley told tonight’s meeting that he wasn’t singling out Catholics.
“It’s not attacking anybody, it’s actually ensuring that we think carefully through whether our children are safe,” he said.
“And where there is ambiguity about that we try to seek some clarity about that.”
Cr Frances Gilley’s amended motion noted with “concern reports in the media suggesting some places of worship may defy the laws as a means of protecting religious beliefs, such as the confessional seal”.
The motion called on council management to confirm with the Child Safety Commissioner if the new “safeguarding children and young people framework” provided adequate protection for children.
Cr Beverley Pinder opposed the motion, saying it took the council into territory where it had no role or authority.
“Obviously all that we can do to protect our children, keep them safe... that’s paramount and that goes without saying,” she said.
“But I don’t believe that this is a fair and constructive way to do it. The focus should really be on places where children participate as opposed to places of worship.”
“I’m rather nervous about this, this is not a battleground for our own personal issues.”
Cr Nicholas Reece praised Cr Frances Gilley for “a great act of bravery that you don’t take a backward step in these sort of things”.
But Cr Susan Riley said the council had no role or authority to enforce a state law.
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Council CEO Justin Hanney told the meeting that the council had no legislative or regulatory levers to deal with the mandatory reporting of child abuse under the Local Government Act.
Mr Hanney said specific legal advice on the matter would need to be sought.
Cr Pinder had foreshadowed an alternative motion, but this lapsed when Cr Frances Gilley’s motion was passed 5-3.
Backing it were Cr Frances Gilley, Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood, Greens councillor Rohan Leppert, Cr Jackie Watts and Cr Reece.
Joining Cr Pinder in opposing the motion were Cr Riley and Cr Kevin Louey.