Church's Melbourne Response shortcomings

ABUSE ROYAL COMMISSION'S ISSUES WITH CATHOLIC CHURCH'S MELBOURNE RESPONSE:

WHAT IS THE MELBOURNE RESPONSE?

* Process for dealing with abuse claims within Melbourne archdiocese

* Set up by then Melbourne archbishop Cardinal George Pell in 1996

HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO NATIONAL TOWARDS HEALING SCHEME?

* More generous payments under TH

* MR average payment $38,800 v TH's $48,300

* 310 payments totalling $12m under MR

* 881 totalling $42.5m under TH

* MR compensation cap $75,000 (originally $50,000)

* No cap under Towards Healing (also set up in 1996)

* Church looking at lifting or removing MR cap

* Need consistent method for deciding payments that's known by all

ISSUE OF INDEPENDENCE

* MR not sufficiently independent of Melbourne archdiocese

* Independent commissioners, Carelink counselling and Compensation Panel not necessarily independent

* Archdiocese's lawyers also work for the three services

ISSUES AROUND DEALING WITH VICTIMS

* Legal-heavy process doesn't provide most support for victims

* Independent commissioner's advice discouraged two victims from going to police

* Redress administrators should leave it to police.