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
TIME HAS COME FOR A NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME
Federal Labor strongly encourages all states and institutions to sign up to a national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse as soon as possible.
It has taken far too long for the Turnbull Government to act on establishing a redress scheme.
In 2015, the Royal Commission recommended a redress scheme be fully operational by July 2017 it is now March 2018, and still no states or institutions have signed up to a national redress scheme.
All organisations, including the states responsible for horrific child sexual abuse must meet their obligations as part of the proposed national redress scheme.
Federal Labor encourages the Turnbull Government to increase the maximum compensation amount to survivors to $200,000, as was recommended by the Royal Commission.
Currently the legislation before the Parliament proposes a maximum payment of $150,000 to survivors.
We don't want to see survivors of child sexual abuse short-changed.
For too long survivors of institutional child sexual abuse weren't believed.
For too long they've waited for justice.
They shouldn't be made to wait any longer for redress.
Labor calls on the Minister for Social Services, Dan Tehan to quickly secure the agreement of all the states and institutions for a national redress scheme, and provide certainty to survivors that they will get the redress that they deserve.
THURSDAY, 8 MARCH 2017
