Justice for Australian victims of child sexual abuse is being blocked by a legal tactic – and it must stop

‘Having had my own case permanently stayed by the supreme court of NSW, I know that for me it was a traumatic and devastating judgement.’ Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

On Wednesday, the high court of Australia handed down an important decision around the use of permanent stays in child sexual abuse cases.

It’s in the case of GLJ v the Catholic Diocese of Lismore. The court has ruled that the case should not have been permanently stayed and that it should proceed to trial.