Letter to overseers, posted on Wings by
The Brave Truth Australia & New Zealand.
Wings purports that "The authors are all meeting participants. They fear backlash from writing this. It has been sent to all Australian overseers."
Response to statement issued by Queensland overseer, April 202429th April 2024
Recently, the overseer of Qld issued a statement regarding a worker who has allegations of inappropriate behaviours with children.
Unfortunately, the overseer’s statement contains misinformation. The statement was published on his behalf via workers in regional areas and then through unwitting Elders to the general fellowship. The overseer has refused to respond to many emailed communications to him from members of the church regarding this matter, therefore we felt that a public response was our only choice to make it known that there are inconsistencies in his statement.
We, the families of some of the victims, would like to correct the misrepresentations. Our information has been obtained from correspondence and a face-to-face meeting with the Detective Senior Constable from the Queensland Police Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes Group.
For those who have ongoing concerns regarding the worker’s alleged behaviour, we hope the following information helps provide clarity.
The overseer’s full statement read:
This is to inform everyone that for the second time XXXXX XXXXX has been investigated by the police and thoroughly so, without any charges being laid and the investigation is to proceed no further. None of the allegations made against XXXXX have been substantiated or confirmed and there is no credible evidence that he has ever harmed a child. So we don’t have any reasonable grounds for restricting XXXXX from attending any meetings.
We address the misinformation below:
1 . This is not the second investigation against XXXXX. The current investigation is a continuation of an investigation that began several years prior.
2. The investigation has not been completed.
3. It is correct that no charges have been laid, however it should also be added that this statement is only true up to this point in time.
4. It is misleading to state that the investigation is to proceed no further. The investigation is not closed, it is ongoing. As new information is continued to be obtained, the allegations of harm to children will be continued to be investigated.
5. While it is true that none of the allegations have been “substantiated or confirmed” to any legal standards of proof, the Police have taken all the allegations from children, their families, and the wider community, seriously. According to the police, some allegations clearly fall within the legal definition of causing harm to children. Unfortunately, many victims are unable, or do not wish to come forward, or do not wish to provide evidence in criminal proceedings. The reasons for this are well documented. This does not make their allegations any less credible.
6. The overseer suggests that there is no credible evidence that XXXXX has harmed a child. The police have a number of allegations and witness statements. Some of those statements and evidence do not meet the prosecutorial standard required for a conviction, however each statement helps provide a clear picture of a sustained pattern of behaviour. Regardless of the information collected by the police, there are also multiple witnesses that have brought their accounts before the overseers and workers. Unfortunately, the overseers and workers have not given credence to the victims. Rather, the opposite is true.
7. It is erroneous to suggest there are no reasonable grounds to prevent XXXXX from attending meetings. The statement does not state whether the intention is in private or public places, however, there are reasonable grounds to prevent XXXXX from attending public religious services. It is actually unreasonable for him to attend.
These grounds relate to; the purpose to alleviate the potential risk of harm to children, and the obligation to keep children safe.
These grounds are based on the legal requirements according to QLD law: Failing to take steps to protect children from sexual offenders is an offence.
- A person in a position of power or responsibility within an institution to reduce or remove a known risk of sexual offending against a child by an adult associated with an institution.
- The failure to protect offence applies if you are 18 or older and associated with an institution that has children in its care, supervision or control.
- You know there is a significant risk that another adult also associated with the institution (or who is a regulated volunteer) will commit a sexual offence against a child or children.
- You have the power or responsibility to reduce or remove the risk but wilfully or negligently fail to reduce or remove the risk.
The grounds to exclude XXXXX from meetings is also stipulated within the ‘zero- tolerance’ policy statements written. This policy was and signed personally by all Australian (except WA) and New Zealand overseers, and issued publicly in 2023.
- The correspondence from the overseers’ states that workers will ‘listen’ and ‘believe’ victims who states allegations of child sexual assault.
- The correspondence also says: “There is no place for people who have harmed children in our meetings and conventions; we ask any individual with a history of causing harm, or allegations, or convictions not to attend. This includes public gospel meeting”.
We would also like to remind overseers that some years ago, when XXXXX was sent to labour in SA, the overseer of SA considered XXXXX’s behaviour around children so disturbing, he removed this worker from the ministry. The SA overseer sent the worker back to Qld on the understanding that he would not be permitted back into the ministry. Unfortunately, and possibly illegally, the worker was allowed back into the ministry by Qld overseers. If the behaviour was considered to be a risk to children then, it should still be considered a risk to children now.
While the statement from the overseer insinuates that the matter is closed, it is not. There is no statute of limitations to report child sexual abuse, therefore victims and their families can still come forward when they are ready. We know that the average time for a victim to disclose child sexual abuse is 23.9 years. Men often take longer to disclose than women. Some victims never disclose.
If you have further information about XXXXX, or any other alleged child sex offences, including grooming, and even if you think it is insignificant, please contact Queensland Police, and more specifically, please contact
Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes Group. This also includes reporting those who have failed their legal duty of care to report any possible or alleged breaches.
Please also, consider reporting your story to
The Brave Truth Australia & New Zealand, so that your information can be added to their database, and you can receive support and advice. Specific contact details for the Detective in charge can also be obtained from
The Brave Truth, ph 0489 994 566.
Signed,
A group of concerned families and survivors.