The court found that to be liable, the man would have had to be an employee.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Laws have been passed making groups such as churches more liable for child sexual abusers. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n
The High Court suggested the only way to address the situation was with new laws.<\/p>\n
And the ACT did just that, with other governments already contemplating their own versions.<\/p>\n
Targeted most vulnerable<\/p>\n
Canberra man Bill is locked in a legal battle over abuse he said he suffered at Marist College, an independent Canberra school.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ABC is not using the man’s real name to protect his identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A victim-survivor of institutional abuse has spoken anonymously about their experience. (ABC News: Stuart Carnegie)<\/p>\n
Bill said he did not report the abuse for decades.<\/p>\n
“[There are] old memories I’ve kept in the cupboard for so long,” he said.<\/p>\n
Bill said he suffered corporal punishment at the school from year 4, but in year 7 things got worse as sexual abuse began.<\/p>\n
He said he was groomed by people who said they knew his parents and would help him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But instead, he said the perpetrators targeted those who were vulnerable.<\/p>\n
“If you are a bit behind or a bit behind with your education, if you couldn’t spell or do maths very well,” he said.<\/p>\n
At one stage, he said his school desk was put into the office of his abusers.<\/p>\n
Legal loophole closes<\/p>\n
Hassan Ehsan says the new law will make it easier for victim-survivors to pursue legal action. (ABC News: Stuart Carnegie)<\/p>\n
Bill has welcomed the new law and said he hoped it would help to bring out others who had suffered.<\/p>\n
His lawyer, Hassan Ehsan, said the law would made his work much easier.<\/p>\n
“About 60 or 70 per cent of my cases in the ACT will be impacted by this bill in a positive way,” Mr Ehsan said.<\/p>\n
Mr Ehsan said he had wanted the law to go further, but believed it would still be effective even after government amendments had wound it back.<\/p>\n
“It closes off a legal loophole that was created as a result of that [High Court] decision,” Mr Ehsan said.<\/p>\n
“Hopefully, the other jurisdictions also do this because otherwise you have a two-tier system of victims.”<\/p>\n
That is already being felt.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Michael Franco (left) and Peter Karp say victim-survivors in NSW have no such law. (ABC News: Stuart Carnegie)<\/p>\n
New South Wales survivor Michael Franco, who suffered abuse from a teacher when he was a child, said the law would not benefit him, but he welcomed it.<\/p>\n
“It’s a small win, but \u2026 we need action in New South Wales as well,” Mr Franco said.Victorian bill anticipated<\/p>\n
In Victoria, things are moving faster.<\/p>\n