Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard says using the seal of the Catholic confessional to cover up child abuse is a “sin of omission” because all adults have a duty of care towards children.

Australian PM Julia Gillard says the terms of reference for the federal royal commission announced on Monday haven’t been set, and nor has the way evidence will be gathered and witnesses questioned.

“That is going to be a matter for the royal commissioners we appoint,” she told reporters in Brisbane.

She said all parties including institutions and victims would be consulted carefully on the terms of reference.

When asked if the commission should examine the Catholic Church’s seal of the confessional, the prime minister agreed that it wasn’t good enough that some adults had been “averting their eyes” from the problem of child abuse.

“Adults have got a duty of care towards children,” Ms Gillard said.

“It’s not good enough for people to engage in sin of omission and not act when a child is at risk.”

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