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Australian leaders

vow to fight

child sex

ADELAIDE, (Australia): Australia's political leaders, alarmed by growing evidence of unchecked paedophilia in the country, vowed on Friday to draft a national plan of action against child sexual abuse.

The decision of Australia's six state premiers to tackle paedophilia followed the sensational revelations of an official inquiry, which has so far heard allegations that police turned a blind eye to child prostitution and known paedophiles.

The inquiry, which has also uncovered evidence of sexual abuse of children living under government care, has focused on Australia's largest city, Sydney. But it has prompted calls for a national probe into paedophilia.

New South Wales Premier Bob Carr, who wants a nationally funded fight against child sexual abuse, said after Friday's meeting in the southern city of Adelaide that all premiers had agreed to develop a national plan of action.

The talks led to "an unprecedented level of agreement from now on between the state governments around Australia to tackle child abuse in all its forms", Carr told reporters.

State police and welfare ministers will meet in the next six months to consider formulating a national approach, he added.

Proposals considered on Friday included national child protection legislation, Carr said.

"There has been a marvellous level of cooperation between state and territory leaders on the imporatance and fundamental obligation of governments to prevent child abuse," Carr said.-Reuter