The Anglican Diocese of Newcastle has set down a professional standards hearing date for former assistant bishop Richard Appleby, on the same day it plans to hand down findings regarding former diocese registrar Peter Mitchell.
Mr Appleby and Mr Mitchell were each referred to the diocese for possible disciplinary action after their evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Professional standards committee president Colin Elliott, a former NSW magistrate, held a directions hearing at the diocese’s Hunter Street headquarters on Wednesday.
He scheduled a December 10 hearing date for Mr Appleby and indicated the committee would hand down a decision on the same day as to whether the diocese would take any action against Mr Mitchell.
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Mr Appleby’s legal representative said on Wednesday the former assistant bishop would be called before the hearing as a witness in December.
