THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
THE HON JENNY MACKLIN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND PAYMENTS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DISABILITY REFORM
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR JAGAJAGA
SENATOR CLAIRE MOORE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNITIES, CARERS AND WOMEN
SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND
LABOR CALLS FOR BIPARTISANSHIP ON REDRESS FOR SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Labor calls on Malcolm Turnbull to take a bipartisan approach to redress for survivors of child sexual abuse and commit to a truly national redress scheme.
This is the number one recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and the preferred approach of survivors themselves.
Unfortunately, the Turnbull Liberal Government has refused to commit to a national scheme, nor make any funding commitment. In fact, the issue has not been mentioned once by the Liberals during the entire election campaign.
This has been truly devastating for survivors, their families and advocates, who all want to see survivors get the redress they deserve.
If there was ever an issue that needed bipartisanship, this should be it.
Labor announced our commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission in October 2015.
Under Labor, there will be a truly national redress scheme.
This will be administered by a National Redress Agency, with input from a council of survivors, their representatives and experts on the impact of abuse.
Labor has committed $33 million to the scheme, including an initial $20 million to establish the National Redress Agency, which will work to get the scheme established.
Labor is committed to the Federal Government acting as a funder of last resort where organisations at which abuse occurred no longer exist.
However, where those institutions still exist, Labor is committed to ensuring the institutions themselves are required to pay redress. That is only fair.
Labor set up the Royal Commission, and we are determined to see survivors get the redress they deserve.
We honour again the tireless advocacy of survivors, their families and representatives without whom there would have been no Royal Commission and whose advocacy now continues to ensure survivors get the redress they deserve.
Under Labor, it will happen.
WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE 2016
