The visit was an attempt to find some solutions to the myriad of problems created by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse decision to relocate Ballarat hearings to Melbourne.  

Clergy sex abuse survivors spokesperson Andrew Collins said the survivors left the meeting still confused by the decision. 

He said a number of survivors had said they would not be attending the hearings because of the difficulty associated with the travel. 

“It is treating Ballarat with a bit of contempt, the survivors, their families and the whole town,” he said. 

“There was a lot of anger, a lot of the guys just said it will be way too hard for us.

“It was mentioned there was a lot of public interest, in Ballarat and by holding it in Melbourne they are saying Ballarat wasn't as important.”

Mr Collins said the representatives said they were going to take the feedback back to the chair of the commission Justice Peter McClellan. 

While the idea of organising buses for survivors and their families was floated by the staff, he said the journey would not be possible for most survivors. 

“A lot of them have memories from getting on buses and going between institutions,” he said. 

“A lot of us couldn’t handle 15 to 20 hours a week just on the bus and the fact that if you feel distressed you can not go home, you have to wait for the bus. We said you can’t just not say anything, you need to engage with the local community.”

The anger concerning the lack of information surrounding the move has seen politicians demanding answers from the commission.

However, so far the only reason for the move given to survivors is around expected public interest. 

“It is frustrating,” he said.  

“We walked out, a lot of the guys felt like it had already been decided, it is going to be held in Melbourne.

“All of that sense of community and camaraderie  has been shot down.”

Mr Collins said a number of survivors believe Cardinal George Pell may have put certain conditions on his attendance. 

The expected appearances of Cardinal Pell and former Ballarat bishop Ronald Mulkearns have created more attention around the hearings and the decision to hold them in Melbourne. 

The Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has already weighed in on the issue as well, saying he expected the commission would “do the right thing” and reconsider its decision.

The ceremonial court in the County Court complex in Melbourne is now expected to be the location for the hearings in November.