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| Australia child abuse inquiry finds 'serious failings' | Australia child abuse inquiry finds 'serious failings' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A five-year inquiry into sexual abuse in Australia has released its final report, saying institutions had "seriously failed" to protect children. | A five-year inquiry into sexual abuse in Australia has released its final report, saying institutions had "seriously failed" to protect children. |
| The royal commission, Australia's highest form of public inquiry, heard more than 8,000 testimonies from victims of abuse. | The royal commission, Australia's highest form of public inquiry, heard more than 8,000 testimonies from victims of abuse. |
| The accusations covered churches, schools and sports clubs over decades. | The accusations covered churches, schools and sports clubs over decades. |
| Among more than 400 recommendations, the report calls on the Catholic Church to overhaul its celibacy rules. | Among more than 400 recommendations, the report calls on the Catholic Church to overhaul its celibacy rules. |
| "Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in many Australian institutions. We will never know the true number," the report said. | "Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in many Australian institutions. We will never know the true number," the report said. |
| "It is not a case of a few 'rotten apples'. Society's major institutions have seriously failed." | "It is not a case of a few 'rotten apples'. Society's major institutions have seriously failed." |
| Since 2013, the royal commission has referred more than 2,500 allegations to authorities. | Since 2013, the royal commission has referred more than 2,500 allegations to authorities. |
| The final report, released on Friday, added 189 recommendations to 220 that had already been made public. The proposals will now be considered by legislators. | The final report, released on Friday, added 189 recommendations to 220 that had already been made public. The proposals will now be considered by legislators. |
| Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said "a national tragedy" had been exposed. | Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said "a national tragedy" had been exposed. |
| Who did the inquiry find? | Who did the inquiry find? |
| The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse had the power to look at any private, public or non-government body involved with children. | The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse had the power to look at any private, public or non-government body involved with children. |
| It was contacted by more than 15,000 people. More than 8,000 victims told their stories, many for the first time in private sessions. | It was contacted by more than 15,000 people. More than 8,000 victims told their stories, many for the first time in private sessions. |
| The commission also received more than 1,300 written accounts and held 57 public hearings across the nation. Allegations were raised against more than 4,000 institutions. | The commission also received more than 1,300 written accounts and held 57 public hearings across the nation. Allegations were raised against more than 4,000 institutions. |
| Religious ministers and school teachers were the most commonly reported perpetrators, the report said. The greatest number were in Catholic institutions. | Religious ministers and school teachers were the most commonly reported perpetrators, the report said. The greatest number were in Catholic institutions. |
| What did it recommend? | What did it recommend? |
| The commission had previously recommended that Catholic clerics should face criminal charges if they fail to report sexual abuse disclosed to them during confession. | The commission had previously recommended that Catholic clerics should face criminal charges if they fail to report sexual abuse disclosed to them during confession. |
| The final report on Friday urged Australian Catholic bishops to petition the Vatican to amend canon law to allow priests to report such disclosures. | |
| It also said the Catholic Church should consider making celibacy voluntary for priests because while it was "not a direct cause of child sexual abuse" it had "contributed to the occurrence of child sexual abuse, especially when combined with other risk factors". | |
| Among its other major findings, the inquiry recommended: | Among its other major findings, the inquiry recommended: |
| How have institutions reacted? | How have institutions reacted? |
| Throughout the inquiry, many leaders of institutions admitted failures and apologised to victims on behalf of their groups. | Throughout the inquiry, many leaders of institutions admitted failures and apologised to victims on behalf of their groups. |
| On Friday, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart, offered an "unconditional" apology. | |
| "This is a shameful past, in which a prevailing culture of secrecy and self-protection led to unnecessary suffering for many victims and their families," he said. | "This is a shameful past, in which a prevailing culture of secrecy and self-protection led to unnecessary suffering for many victims and their families," he said. |
| However, he rejected changing the rules on confession. | |
| "The seal of the confessional, or the relationship with God that's carried through the priest and with the person, is inviolable," he said. | |
| Australia's most senior Anglican figure, Melbourne Archbishop Dr Philip Freier, apologised for "our failures and by the shameful way we sometimes actively worked against and discouraged those who came to us and reported abuse". | |
| Uncertainty over compensation | Uncertainty over compensation |
| Hywel Griffith, BBC News Sydney correspondent | Hywel Griffith, BBC News Sydney correspondent |
| There are few countries in the world that have confronted the issue of child abuse as comprehensively as Australia. But there are questions over what compensation will be on offer. | There are few countries in the world that have confronted the issue of child abuse as comprehensively as Australia. But there are questions over what compensation will be on offer. |
| In October, the federal government announced a national redress scheme that would entitle victims to claim up to A$150,000 (£85,000; $115,000) each. | In October, the federal government announced a national redress scheme that would entitle victims to claim up to A$150,000 (£85,000; $115,000) each. |
| However, it is still unclear whether all state governments and church authorities will sign up to it. | However, it is still unclear whether all state governments and church authorities will sign up to it. |
| With the total bill estimated to be around A$4bn, there could still be a lengthy political row over who should pay what, in order to help those whose lives have been damaged. | With the total bill estimated to be around A$4bn, there could still be a lengthy political row over who should pay what, in order to help those whose lives have been damaged. |
| Survivor accounts: Extracts from the final report | Survivor accounts: Extracts from the final report |
| *Names have been changed in the report to protect the identities of the survivors. | *Names have been changed in the report to protect the identities of the survivors. |
| Letters from survivors | Letters from survivors |
| After revealing their experiences, survivors were invited to write about the process of coming forward. | After revealing their experiences, survivors were invited to write about the process of coming forward. |
| They have now been compiled in a book - "Message to Australia" - which was described by one lawyer as "too heavy to lift". | They have now been compiled in a book - "Message to Australia" - which was described by one lawyer as "too heavy to lift". |
| More: 'I can now pick up the pieces of my life' |