ADVOCATES and survivors of clergy sexual abuse yesterday welcomed a national royal commission into child abuse in churches, schools and other institutions.
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Terms of reference for the commission are expected to be announced before the end of the year, with one or more commissioners to be appointed.
The inquiry is expected to include allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, other religious bodies, state homes and organisations including scouting groups and hospitals.
Since 1854, Victoria has had more than 150 royal commissions. The most recent was the 2009 Teague Royal Commission into the Black Saturday bushfires.
Royal commissions are established to act as a public inquiry into certain subjects or events, with a period of submissions and public hearings before a report with expert recommendations is issued.
To be created, royal commissions require acts of parliament to be passed, with the Commonwealth Royal Commission Act of 1902 setting out the requirements.
Commissions have wide powers to subpoena witnesses and seek evidence, with the government likely to respond to its findings.
The new royal commission is likely to begin its work in 2013 but its outcomes are not expected for several years.
