Prime Minister Scott Morrison has offered a national apology to victims of child sex abuse, following a five year inquiry that involved more than 8,000 cases.
Australia set up a scheme this year to compensate victims up to $150,000 each, but are yet to decide if they will adopt recommendations from the national inquiry, most notably the recommendation for Catholic priests to report child abuse they may learn about in confessional.
The expression of national regret from Monday is only reserved for misdeeds in which the state has played a role.