The Anglican Diocese of Tasmania says its bill for historical child sexual abuse could reach $80 million, eight times the amount it first estimated in 2018.
Updated actuarial advice released on Monday shows the projected liability has more than doubled since 2023, when it sat at $36 million. The original 2018 figure was $10 million.
Payments to survivors are expected to be made over the next 15 years.
The Diocese says the sharp increase reflects more survivors coming forward, higher average civil settlements and a rise in the number of civil claims being lodged.
Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie said the church accepted responsibility for what happened.
“We are deeply ashamed of what happened to these children when they were in our care,” Condie said.
“What the perpetrators did was pure evil and we condemn it.”
“They are not our crimes, but they are our responsibility.”
The liability stems from decades of abuse exposed through the 1998 Not the Way of Christ inquiry and two Royal Commission case studies in 2015 and 2017, which examined The Hutchins School and the Church of England Boys’ Society.
To meet earlier obligations under the National Redress Scheme, the Diocese’s 2018 plan included selling 73 properties across Tasmania, including churches cemeteries and vacant land.
It has also redirected funds from prison chaplaincy, parish ministry and youth work.
A redress working group is now considering further options to find the additional money required.
“Everything is on the table,” Condie said.
“The past decisions to sell property and redirect capital were difficult at the time, but now we will be considering more far-reaching options.”
Condie said the church remained committed to its core work despite the financial pressure.
“We do not yet know how this new estimate of liability will affect our operations, but we know that God loves all Tasmanians and we are committed to bringing the good news of Jesus to all Tasmanians even if it means making significant changes to our models of how this happens,” he said.
Condie encouraged any further survivors of abuse in the Anglican Church to come forward.
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