NSW to consider action over Catholic church abuse legal tactics

A spokesperson for NSW attorney general Michael Daley says the government is investigating whether it needs to act further on the use of permanent stays in abuse cases. Photograph: James Gourley/AAP

The New South Wales attorney general, Michael Daley, has ordered an urgent briefing on the landmark high court decision over the Catholic church’s tactics in abuse cases.

The high court on Wednesday delivered a damning judgment against the church over its use of permanent stays to permanently halt survivors’ claims, finding that such a measure should only be used as a last resort.