THE HON JENNY MACKLIN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES
MEMBER FOR JAGAJAGA
THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
STATES CALL ON TURNBULL TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME
Malcolm Turnbull must commit to a national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse without delay, as called for by survivors and recommended by the Royal Commission.
Reports today that New South Wales and Queensland have continued calls on the Government to establish a national scheme put the Turnbull Governments inaction to shame. The Catholic, Anglican and Uniting churches, and many Jewish community leaders, have also called on the Government to establish one national scheme.
State-run schemes will mean that survivors of abuse at the hands of the state will have to approach their perpetrators for compensation. It will also mean compensation could be distributed unevenly across the nation.
A national scheme is not, as Mr Turnbull has claimed, about the Commonwealth meeting the costs of redress. Instead one national scheme is necessary to ensure that the institutions responsible meet the costs of redress and that survivors receive proper and consistent compensation, no matter where they live.
Survivors of child sexual abuse have been waiting their whole lives for redress for the crimes perpetrated against them as children. They have waited long enough.The Government has already ignored the Royal Commissions advice to make an announcement on the scheme by December 2015 and proceed quickly with negotiations.
Labor has previously committed to a national scheme because that is what the Royal Commission recommended and that is what survivors want.
Labor knows that survivors want a scheme which is independent, where any redress, including a financial response, is fair and delivered nationally.
Mr Turnbull and Mr Porter must give survivors the certainty and redress that they deserve.
For more information on Labor's plan for a national redress scheme, visit www.alp.org.au/nationalredressscheme.
MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2016
