Uniting Church calls for sex abuse compensation levy

Kay Dibbern, The Courier Mail

February 27, 2018

THE Uniting Church in Queensland has put forward a plan for congregations to pay a levy and schools to increase fees to compensate child sex abuse victims.

The Queensland Synod has run out of funds for victims after shelling out $4.27 million in 12 months and said they could “all share the pain of past injustices”.

It has suggested congregations and church entities, including schools, hospitals and care groups, pay a levy to fund victims’ future injury claims.

It said affiliated schools, which include prestigious Brisbane Boys College and Clayfield College, could increase school fees and its 12,500 church members could do more fundraising.

The Synod outlined its levy proposal as one of four fundraising options, in a statement sent to ministers, its schools and colleges body, UnitingCare Qld and Wesley Mission.

The church has had 31 applicants for its interim redress scheme in 12 months. Settlements or offers to victims totalled $4,276,100 and administration and legal costs were $629,275.

The Synod says it cannot fund any potential claims, unless the church trust sells assets.

Its 2016 financial statement listed more than $32 million in property, plant and equipment alone, total assets of more than $576 million and total liabilities of more than $523 million.

The Uniting Church in Queensland lists 19 schools and colleges. It has four hospitals, including Brisbane’s Wesley Hospital and St Andrew’s Private Hospital.

There are 250 churches, including Brisbane’s heritage-listed Albert St Uniting Church, opposite King George Square, and St Andrew’s Uniting Church in Ann St, city.

“The Synod Reserve has been fully utilised and there are no other available monies that can be diverted to fund any future payments,” the Synod statement said.

Apart from a church-wide levy or asset sale the Synod suggested the entity in which the abuse occurred should fund payouts.

“No decisions about any of the options have been made, nor are they likely to be made in the foreseeable future,’’ a Queensland Synod spokesperson said yesterday.

Michelle James of Maurice Blackburn said it “beggars belief” the church was only now looking at ways to provide monetary compensation to abuse victims.

A Brisbane church member said no one in his congregation was happy with the idea of a levy.

“It means more lamington drives, more raffles, more money on the plate on Sundays or selling assets,’’ he said.

The Queensland Synod was committed to doing all that it could to provide redress to those sexually abused as children in the church’s care, a spokesman said.

In 2016, retired Uniting Church minister Barry Dangerfield, who repeatedly molested a young boy more than 50 years ago, received a wholly suspended three-year jail term.

The Uniting Church in Australia has received 430 allegations of child sexual abuse since 1977, with 102 resulting in claims for redress or civil compensation.