Abuse claims push Church costs to $23m
Anglican Church in Tasmania is facing a bigger compensation bill for historical sexual abuse than first envisioned as more victims come forward and take legal action.
Anglican Bishop Richard Condie said the Tasmanian diocese was now expecting to pay out $23m to victims – up from the $8m planned for in 2018 when the Anglican Synod voted in support of property sales to fund the redress.
“The redress commitment is certainly tracking ahead of what was expected, with more victims coming forward and more electing to go with a civil claim than go through the redress scheme,” Bishop Condie said.
The average payout has increased from $75,000 to $160,000. It is almost three years since the Anglican Dio
cese of Tasmania announced it would sell off more than 70 properties to compensate victims of abuse.
Some of the funds raised are also going into “reinvigorating” the church and fund new minister positions.
Bishop Condie said he “apologised deeply” for the hurt caused by abuse.
“The history is appalling and I understand institutional churches are on the nose,” he said. “But the church has changed. It is not all robes and candles anymore. It is a collecTHE tion of communities trying to live according to what Jesus taught.”
Only 20 Anglican Diocese of Tasmania properties are left to hit the market, with 30 already sold.
The remaining properties will be sold over the next two to three years, including St Stephen’s in Sandy Bay.
That sale has been complicated due to planning issues for the prime Derwent River site and the need to find a new home for the wall of ashes, so family can still have access.
Another three churches are under contract – St Mark’s Church at Cressy, St Michael’s at Kimberley and St Olaves at Stony Rise.
Some parishes, such as St Matthias at Windermere, raised enough money – $45,500 in that case – to save their churches.