00:00When the man known as DP was five years old, he was sexually abused by Father Brian Coffey at his parents' home at Port Ferry in Victoria.
00:11In 2021, he successfully sued the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat, arguing it was vicariously liable for the pedophile's actions.
00:20The diocese launched an appeal in the High Court and won.
00:23The ultimate message received from the Australian judicial system is that, yes, you were abused.
00:30Yes, it was with respect to a convicted pedophile, but there is no legal remedy for you.
00:36The High Court phoned the diocese was not liable because Coffey wasn't an employee.
00:42Institutions have a reputation for avoiding accountability at all costs and prioritising their own interests, their own financial interests.
00:52over the healing, over the justice of victim survivors.
00:59Grace Tame says the judgment wound back progress made by the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.
01:07Many survivors were directed to the civil courts as a pathway to seeking justice.
01:15Now Grace Tame and DP have joined forces, campaigning for every state and territory to change their vicarious liability legislation.
01:24They want it to be retrospective and include people who are akin to employees, such as volunteers.
01:31In a statement, DP described his case as draining and devastating.
01:35He said if governments don't change the law, other victim survivors will lie down and have to take the injustice.
01:42A woman the ABC is calling Deb was also sexually abused by Coffey when she was 11 and had to settle her case against the diocese out of court.
01:52It was astounding because I sat in the boardroom at Ballarat with Bishop Bird and he said our cause is compassion and charity.
02:03And I went, no it's not. It's not.
02:08You can't say that when you just did that to thousands of people. Thousands.
02:12Some changes are starting to be made. The ACT has overhauled its law.
02:17A bill is being passed in Victoria and the Western Australia government says recently introduced legislation is a first step.
02:25The other states and the Northern Territory say they will continue to consider further reforms.
02:31It is appalling that the rest of the states are just dragging their heels.
02:34The Diocese of Ballarat declined an interview request.
02:38In a statement, Bishop Paul Bird said the church community accepts legal liability when we have been negligent in fulfilling our responsibilities.
02:48Even when we are not legally liable, we provide assistance to those harmed by church personnel
02:53and have placed all our financial reserves at the service of the healing of victim survivors.
03:00Bishop Bird says he does not support the proposed changes.
03:04For this and when they receive treatment problems, we don't care about it.
03:19...
03:21We'll talk about it.
03:21Three groups of people, we have guided their préfet, and the influencers.
03:23We'll be free to learn about this therefore they will come down theathletary and the app.
03:27We'll come down the Dáil in theaisseur for the reception in the morning and the way.
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