PM Howard ‘cool’ on child sex abuse inquiry, Democrats move

PRIME Minister John Howard appears unlikely to agree to a call for a Federal royal commission into child sex abuse.
  Brisbane's Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall wrote to Mr Howard yesterday calling for a royal commission after difficulties setting up his own inquiry.
  Dr Aspinall announced an independent inquiry two months ago amid the mounting accusations surrounding former Brisbane archbishop and Governor-General Peter Hollingworth.
  But he said he had run into problems because an independent inquiry could not compel witnesses to answer questions and he had been unable to find someone to head the inquiry.

  Mr Howard said yesterday he would consider Dr Aspinall's call but was not willing at the moment to commit the Government to a royal commission.
  "There are some good reasons to be cautious about calling royal commissions into something," he said.
  "I think we have to make certain before we just in a kneejerk way say, 'Oh, let's have a royal commission.' That it is completely justified.
  "And if there is a group in the community that feels it has something to investigate regarding child abuse in its own ranks then it should do so itself."
  The Senate will vote in May on whether to hold an inquiry into child abuse of non-indigenous children in institutions and in care in the last century.
  The inquiry was proposed by Democrats W.A. Senator Andrew Murray. He said there was a need for the Senate to offer its support for a new inquiry into the pressing issue of child abuse.
  The inquiry was proposed to "close the circle" on the stolen generation and child migrant inquiries.
  Senator Murray said the need for a third inquiry became evident during the inquiry into the child migrant schemes.
  Senator Murray said he was still seeking support for the inquiry. Greens and Labor spokesmen said they would consider the issue.
  A spokeswoman for Federal Children and Youth Affairs Minister Larry Anthony said the Government was open to the idea of the inquiry and would consider its terms of reference in detail.
-- with AAP