"Rachel Payne MP has asked the government to prioritise vicarious liability law reform as a matter of urgency. She is advocating for reform to ensure that victim-survivors of historical child abuse can access justice for crimes of abuse perpetrated in non-employment settings. This includes such settings as churches, foster care, Scouts and sports clubs.

The need for reform was highlighted by the High Court decision in Bird v. DP, which ruled that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ballarat could not be held vicariously liable for historical child sexual abuse because Fr. Coffey was not an employee."

In the Beaumaris community, this impacts countless survivors of abuse at St Kilda Football Club when a paedophile ring infiltrated the Little League team in the 1970s.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-15/paedophile-coaches-turn-boyhood-dreams-into-nightmares-st-kilda/100080988

Yesterday the ABC reported:

"Attorneys-general across Australia have since discussed the changes and victim-survivors have led a major campaign for states to fix the law, with private members bills introduced by the Legalise Cannabis Party in Victoria and NSW parliaments.

There has been a groundswell of support from Labor MPs in Victoria with dozens signing a letter backing retrospective laws and demanding action from cabinet.

Senior ministers also met with victim-survivors and lawyers in Victoria in recent months.

Victorian Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny on Tuesday told her party's weekly caucus meeting that Victoria would introduce retrospective laws to parliament by the end of 2025.

Ms Kilkenny told the ABC she had instructed her department to begin drafting legislation. She acknowledged many victim-survivors felt ignored.

"We are listening, this government is listening, and we will develop legislation that will be before the parliament as soon as possible,'' she said.

Legalise Cannabis MP Rachel Payne said she would continue to push the government to act "as soon as possible".

"Time is of the essence," she said. "Victim survivors of institutional child sexual abuse have already been waiting for far too long.

"We've already introduced a bill that delivers these vital reforms. The government could pass it tomorrow … this bill has been endorsed by survivors, advocates and the legal profession and allows for retrospective laws and strikes the right balance."

Lawyer Judy Courtin, who has a long history of taking on institutions over abuse claims, said she was pleased with the government's decision.

But she said there was no need to wait another six months for changes with the private members bill already tabled and being debated in parliament.

"The government has the perfect bill already. It can tinker with it and put its own moniker on it," she said.

"It is ready to go."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-17/churches-vicarious-responsiblity-abuse-priests-victoria/105426370

You can email the Victorian Attorney General directly that these laws must be changed as a matter of urgency, via the following link:

https://rachelpayne.com.au/vicarious-liability-law-reform-is-a-matter-of-urgency/

Our profound thanks and gratitude to Rachel Payne MP, her colleagues and team, for their work and tireless efforts on behalf of survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.