THE HON. BILL SHORTEN MP
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS & ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS
MEMBER FOR MARIBYRNONG
THE HON. JENNY MACKLIN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
MEMBER FOR JAGAJAGA
THE HON. MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO ROYAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
Labor welcomes the Government's initial response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
This follows the significant announcement that all states and territories will join the National Redress Scheme, along with many religious and non-government organisations.
This is another important milestone on the path to justice for survivors, and it means we are closer to survivors getting the redress they deserve.
It is also a significant step toward protecting children from the scourge of child sexual abuse into the future.
We welcome the Commonwealth Government's commitment to establish a National Office for Child Safety from 1 July this year.
This was an important recommendation of the Royal Commission designed to ensure that the abuse endured by survivors never happens again.
Labor will carefully examine the details of the Commonwealth Government's response, including the 18 recommendations that they have noted but not yet committed to implement.
Today is an important day for survivors we have only gotten to this point because of the extraordinary courage and determination of survivors and their advocates.
The Royal Commission made 409 recommendations, with 122 of those relating directly or partly to the federal government.
The Gillard Labor Government established the five-year long Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2013.
Labor has been campaigning for the establishment of a national redress scheme since 2015.
We are disappointed that the redress scheme will start one year later than was recommended by the Royal Commission and that the cap on redress payments is lower than recommended. We are also concerned that the proposed indexation arrangement for previous payments could leave some survivors with nothing.
There is no excuse for any relevant institution or non-government organisation not to join the national redress scheme.
We are making important progress on redress, but there's much more to do.
All governments must keep working together with urgency to deliver justice and make sure children are safe in the future.
WEDNESDAY, 13 JUNE 2018
