The royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse is continuing its investigation of Australia’s immigration department over allegations of child sexual abuse in detention centres and has left open the possibility of holding public hearings. The cache of leaked reports sets out the assaults, sexual abuse, self-harm attempts, child abuse and living conditions endured by asylum seekers and has sparked calls for a Senate inquiry into the reports and Australia’s response. A spokeswoman for the royal commission said: “The royal commission does not ordinarily comment upon operational matters. The spokeswoman for the commission said: “The royal commission is conscious that a child protection panel was established by the secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in May 2015. “The royal commission anticipates that the report will deal with the department’s response to, among other matters, allegations of child abuse in detention centres.

Source: The Guardian August 15, 2016 06:00 UTC