A special meeting of synod has voted to change the diocese’s legal structure to a registered corporation in response to abuse claims.

A special meeting of the Melbourne synod has voted to change the diocese’s legal structure to a registered corporation.Gathered at St Paul’s Cathedral on 20 June 2015 delegates overwhelmingly passed the resolution. Melbourne  now joins all of the other Anglican dioceses in Victoria, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Wangaratta, in adopting a corporate identity.  The Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Rev. Philip Freier said the decision was taken in response to the recommendations of a 2013 inquiry into clergy sex abuse. “The parliamentary inquiry commended the Anglican church for its response to sexual abuse, but we still felt we could do better,” Dr Freier said. “This improves our transparency and our governance, and sets up an entity that is plainly legally responsible. It will help strengthen our public accountability.”