The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Canberra from Tuesday 10 to Tuesday 17 June, on Tuesday 1 July and on Thursday 7 August 2014.

The public hearing inquired into the response of the Marist Brothers to allegations of child sexual abuse in schools in the ACT, NSW and Queensland.

The scope and purpose of the public hearing was to inquire into:

1. The responses of the Marist Brothers, including schools operated by it, to allegations of child sexual abuse regarding Brother John Chute (aka Brother Kostka) and former Brother Gregory Sutton.

2. The steps taken by the Marist Brothers, including schools operated by it, to report allegations of child sexual abuse regarding Brother John Chute and former Brother Gregory Sutton to the police.

3. The response of agencies, including the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, to reports of child sexual abuse regarding Brother John Chute and former Brother Gregory Sutton.

4. The settling of compensation claims by Catholic Church Insurance and the Marist Brothers regarding allegations of child sexual abuse made against Brother John Chute and former Brother Gregory Sutton.

5. Any related matters.