The Army has also declined to state how much it has paid overall to victims since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuses.

“The current position is that this information is confidential, as a consequence of TSA’s position of respect and privacy for the survivors,” a spokesman said.

Challenged on why the Army could not release an overall amount when other church institutions like the Canberra/Goulburn Anglican Diocese had, the spokesman did not respond.

Nor will the Salvation Army say whether any civil cases against it are underway in regard to Walker’s abuse. 

However the spokesman told The Post that the organisation had not helped with any legal costs for Walker or another abuse case involving former Major John McIver, who also served at the Gill Memorial Boys Home.

The Royal Commission heard from 294 people who claimed they had been abused by Salvation Army officers. Its findings stated that officers who had been found to have engaged in abuse were transferred between four different Homes.

In 2016, the Commission was told of the Army’s incorrect assessment and underpayment of claims in the period 1997 to 2014.

In regard to Walker’s conviction, the Army said it acknowledged survivors’ courage.

“We are pleased justice has been served,” the spokesman said.

Asked what support had been provided to Walker’s victims, he said the Army could not speak about specific cases but, generally, discussions with survivors were guided by their needs and could include counselling, support services and a direct response from a senior representative of TSA.

The Salvation Army has signed up to the national redress scheme in regard to Gill and its other institutions.

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But Walker victim Mark Stiles describes the scheme as “a conscience balm” for churches.

“It’s the path of least resistance and the most self mitigating scheme I’ve seen,” he said.

Mr Stiles said the $70,000 payment would not fix people, but many would likely accept it because they could find no other avenue.

He argued a far worthier idea was for churches to pay an annual insurance fee into a fund for victims of abuse. 

“Government is yet to understand that when kids are put into homes, abused and denigrated, years down the track they will not trust government,” he said. 

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