Surely that`s a good question cofty ,and one that I can`t explain to any satisfaction .Australia has 6 States and 2 Territories all with differing laws that apparently confuses the issue .
My brief perusal of each of the States and territories legislation gave me the impression at least some states it was required of ministers of Religion to do so.
However maybe JW`s fell back on the claim they do not have a clergy class ,honestly I do not know.
At the ARC Geoffrey Jackson the Aussie G.B. member said it would make their life easier if it was mandatory for them to report such instances ,.putting the onus back on the Government as if it was their fault it wasn`t done .