Survivors Fight for Justice: Closing Vicarious Liability Loophole

0:00It's April 9th. Welcome in. This is Sydney News Today, where local news meets AI. Grace Tame and the survivor known as DP are pushing hard for big changes to bicarious liability laws across Australia. It all stems from a high court ruling that cleared the diocese of Valorad from blame for child sexual abuse by priest Father Brian Coffey back in. 1971. DP, who was just five when abused in his family home, first won $200,000 in damages from victorious Supreme Court, but the high. Court overturned that in late 2024, the issue boils down to priests not counting as employees under current rules, so institutions dodge responsibility unless they're directly negligent. DP's case dragged through appeals with the church fighting tooth and nail, leaving him drained and furious. Now, they're launching the speak up for change campaign, demanding reforms that cover folks like priests and volunteers and make them apply retroactively to old cases.

1:01Survivors are reeling from this, feeling like the system tells them their pain doesn't matter. DP called it devastating, saying the church tried to break him. Another victim, Deb, abused at 11 by the same priest, lost her decade long fight too, calling the outcome cruel. Grace Tame slammed the hypocrisy, pointing out how the church grabbed jobkeeper cash during COVID while denying liability here. Bishop Paul Bird insists they're committed to healing through counseling and payments when negligent. Lawyers argue the law clashes with community expectations, since priests get wages, safety protections, and even pandemic aid like employees. The Royal Commission in 2017 urged states to hold institutions accountable for anyone linked to them, but most changes so far only kick in, for future abuse. Meanwhile, the ACT led with reforms last October, Western Australia followed in November, and Victoria's bill heads to the Upper House in February. With attorneys general talking consistency, this campaign aims to seal the loophole for good, giving survivors the justice they've long deserved.