Money needed to compensate Anglican Diocese abuse victims climbs from $8m to $23m

The amount of money the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania needs to raise to compensate victims of abuse has almost tripled as more properties hit the market. LATEST ON THE SALES >>

TASMANIA’S Anglican Church is facing a much bigger abuse redress bill than first envisioned as more victims come forward than expected and more elect to go down the civil litigation route.

Anglican Bishop Richard Condie says the Tasmanian diocese was now expecting to pay out $23m to victims – up from the $8m planned for in 2018 when the Synod voted in support of a property sale to fund the commitment.

“The redress commitment is certainly tracking ahead of what was expected with more victims coming forward and more electing to go with a civil claim than go through the redress scheme,” Bishop Condie said.

The average payout has now increased from $75,000 to $160,000.

It is almost three years since the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania announced it would sell off more than 70 properties to compensate victims of abuse.

Some of the funds raised are also going into “reinvigorating” the church and fund new minister positions - particularly in regional areas.

Bishop Richard Condie is shown at Kingston. Picture Eddie Safarik

Bishop Condie said he “apologised deeply” for the hurt caused by abuse within his church.

“The history is appalling and I undertand insitutional churches are “on the nose”

“But the church has changed. It is not all robes and candles anymore. It is a collection of communities trying to live according to what Jesus taught,” he said.

Only 20 Anglican Diocese of Tasmania properties are left to hit the market with 30 already sold.

The remaining properties will be sold over the next two to three years including St Stephen’s in Sandy Bay.

That sale has been complicated due to planning issues stemming from its prime Derwent River site and the need to find a new home for the wall of ashes so family can still have access.

Bishop Richard Condie is shown at Kingston. Picture Eddie Safarik

Another three churches are currently under contract – St Mark’s Church Cressy, St Michael’s at Kimberley and St Olaves Stony Rise.

Some parishes – such as St Mathias at Windemere -raised enough ($45,500 in that case) to save their churches and the Diocese said there were ongoing discussions with some community groups about several properties.

Those properties may not be advertised on the open market.

“We tried to prioritise community groups but we are no trying to simply get rid of surplus stock and need to go through a commercial process,” Bishop Condie said.

Anglican Diocese property sell-off nears half way

ONLY 20 Anglican Diocese of Tasmania properties are left to hit the market as churches, halls and land are snapped up as part of the Diocese'’s Redress Fund fire sale.

The Anglican Church has sold 30 of its Tasmanian properties since it voted almost three years ago to sell up more than 70 to raise money to pay victims of abuse.

Those properties include vacant land in Rosebery, Gagebrook and Fingal.

The church says another 20 churches, halls and parcels of land will be sold over the next two to three years including St Stephen’s in Sandy Bay and St John the Baptist in Buckland.

St. Stephens on Sandy Bay Road is one of the Anglican Church's properties to be considered for sale as part of the Church’s proposal for funding Redress. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Another three churches are currently under contract - St Mark’s Church Cressy, St Michael’s at Kimberley and St Olaves Stony Rise.

Some parishes raised enough money to save their churches and the Diocese said there were ongoing discussions with some community groups about several properties.

Those properties may not be advertised on the open market.

The church decided on December 1, 2018 it would sell 73 properties to raise funds and between June, 2019 and November last year had finalised $3.65m in redress payments to survivors of abuse.