Vicarious Liability Laws Pass
In short:
The Vicarious Liability Bill passed through Victoria’s upper house unopposed yesterday, reversing a High Court decision that found the Catholic Church could not be sued for the actions of a priest.
Lawyer Judy Courtin says it means a priest, Christian brother and possibly a volunteer can now be defined as “akin” or similar to an employee.
What’s next?
Dr Courtin says means thousands of victim-survivors now have a chance at their day in court.
Judy Courtin could hear church bells ringing in the distance as she stood outside Victorian parliament with around 50 victim-survivors of clergy abuse.
The group was celebrating a significant milestone yesterday. The state upper house had just passed the Vicarious Liability Act unopposed, effectively reversing a High Court decision that meant churches in Victoria cannot be sued for the actions of one of its priests.
Dr Courtin, a lawyer specialising in justice and accountability for victims of institutional child abuse, said the new law meant a priest, Christian brother and possibly a volunteer could now be defined as “akin” or similar to an employee.
The act has given those victim-survivors another chance at justice.
“It was a very moving day,”
she said.
“Regardless of the political persuasion of the members of the upper house, there was no ego, there was no disagreement.
“Everybody was focused on the struggles of survivor-victims and their families.
“When it was over, there was a very, very thunderous applause from the entire public gallery.”