Melbourne from 1996: The Church's "Melbourne Response" compensation scheme capped payments to abuse victims at 50,000 dollars; victims were discouraged from going to the police

On 30 October 1996 Archbishop George Pell announced the "Melbourne Response", a process for abuse victims drawn up by the archdiocese's lawyers. Payments were initially capped at 50,000 dollars, later at 55,000 and 75,000 dollars; the national process "Towards Healing" had no cap and according to the Royal Commission led to more generous payments. According to the Royal Commission, the Church-appointed Independent Commissioner gave two victims advice about the police process that discouraged them from going to the police. Parents of two abused girls called the scheme a cost-saving measure; according to the mother, Pell replied that they should take the Church to court if they did not like it, and called reports of offenders still in ministry "gossip".

Period

1996-2014 (18 years)

Country

Australia

Institutions

Archdiocese of Melbourne
Archbishop George Pell
Melbourne Response

Category

Sexual abuse, Cover-up

Level of evidence

A Primary source · what does this mean?

Background

Who received the assets, who profited?

1. In July 1996 Archbishop Pell instructed the archdiocese's law firm to draw up a new scheme and on 30 October 1996 announced the Melbourne Response. The ex gratia payments were capped at 50,000 dollars, from 2000 at 55,000 and from 2008 at 75,000 dollars. Because the national Towards Healing process adopted a few weeks later had no cap, survivors there received more generous payments, according to the Royal Commission; like cases were not treated alike. The same law firm, solicitors to the archdiocese for more than 50 years, also served the Commissioners and the Compensation Panel.
   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 5

   „On 30 October 1996, 11 days after the Melbourne Forum (discussed below), Archbishop Pell announced the Melbourne Response.“

   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 7

   „When the Melbourne Response was established, ex gratia payments were capped at $50,000. This amount increased to $55,000 in 2000 and was again increased in 2008 to its present cap of $75,000.“

   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 7

   „Because Towards Healing did not cap the financial payment, it may have and has resulted in more generous payments to survivors than the Melbourne Response“

   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 8

   „Corrs have been the solicitors for the Archdiocese of Melbourne for more than 50 years.“

Response of the Church

1. At the Melbourne Forum in October 1996, according to Christine Foster, the Church leaders stood up and left the stage while her letter was being read out; the Royal Commission accepted her account. In February 1997 the Fosters told Pell that they saw the Melbourne Response as a cost-saving measure by the Church to the detriment of victims; according to Mrs Foster, Pell replied: "if you don't like what we're doing, take us to court". Asked about known offenders still in ministry, he said it was all gossip until proven in court. The commission is satisfied that Pell made these comments.
   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 6

   „She said that while her letter was being read out, the Catholic Church leadership stood up, walked off the stage and did not return.“

   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 6

   „Notwithstanding these differing accounts, we accept Mrs Foster’s recollection of the events.“

   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 14

   „they viewed the Melbourne Response as a cost-saving measure by the Catholic Church to the detriment of victims“

   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 14

   „if you don’t like what we’re doing, take us to court“

   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 15

   „It’s all gossip until it’s proven in court and I don’t listen to gossip“

   Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien, S. 15

   „We are satisfied that the Cardinal made the comments attributed to him“

See also

• 1950-2013 · 63 years

  Victoria, Australia: parliamentary inquiry "Betrayal of Trust" into the handling of child abuse (2013)

  • Australia
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up
• 1954-1997 · 43 years

  Melbourne 1954 to 1997: Royal Commission found a "culture of secrecy" under Archbishop Little; offenders' resignations were disguised as ill health and minutes concealed the abuse

  • Australia
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up
• 1967-2001 · 34 years

  Brisbane 1967 to 2001: Abuse victim Joan Isaacs received 30,000 dollars after two years of negotiation and had to commit herself to silence

  • Australia
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up
• 1974-2007 · 33 years

  Sydney 1974 to 2007: The archdiocese offered abuse victim John Ellis 30,000 dollars and denied the abuse in court in order to deter other victims from suing

  • Australia
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up

Original documents to read

1. Government report
   Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australien: Report of Case Study No. 16: The Melbourne Response. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 30 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 30 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.