Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury MLA introduced legislation to make the ACT the first jurisdiction to hold organisations vicariously liable for crimes perpetrated by people who are technically not employees but are associated with their organisation, including in positions akin to employment.
The Civil Law (Wrongs) (Organisational Child Abuse Liability) Amendment Bill 2025 was developed in response to a High Court judgement in DP v Bird [2024] HCA 41, which found in 2024 that an organisation could not be held vicariously liable where a perpetrator of abuse is not formally employed by the organisation. Often, priests carry out work but are not formally employed by a Diocese, as in the case of DP v Bird. This finding meant that some victims of institutional sexual abuse in the ACT were unable to sue for vicarious liability.
Thomas spoke in strong support of the bill, where he praised the collaborative work of the Assembly to ensure that victims of abuse will have access to appropriate recourse moving forward. The bill was passed with unanimous support, after incorporating minor amendments from ACT Labor that also passed without opposition.