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
TURNBULL CONFIRMS NO NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME FOR SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Malcolm Turnbull today confirmed in Question Time that there will be no single national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, while there is a Liberal Government.
Tanya Plibersek asked Malcolm Turnbull:
Why is the Prime Minister refusing to establish a national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse, as recommended one year ago by the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse?
Tanya Plibersek MP, House of Reps, 15th September 2016
Mr Turnbull answered:
We will be seeking to deliver a nationally consistent approach but not - but what honourable members opposite are proposing I gather, is that the Federal Government should simply pay all of the compensation or all of the redress.
Malcolm Turnbull, House of Reps, 15th September 2016
But Mr Turnbull is wrong.
Labor is proposing a national scheme because that is what the Royal Commission recommended and that is what survivors want. This will ensure that the institutions responsible meet the costs of redress and that survivors are treated equally across Australia.
Labor knows that survivors want a scheme which is independent, where any redress, including a financial response, is fair and importantly national.
The Turnbull Government's preferred option of a state-by-state scheme coordinated nationally was identified by the Royal Commission as being inferior to a single scheme administered by the Commonwealth:
We have no doubt that the best structure for providing redress is through a single national redress scheme established by the Australian Government.
Royal Commission report on redress, p317
Mr Turnbull's answer in Question Time simply wasn't good enough.
Mr Turnbull failed to give any certainty to survivors that they will get the redress they deserve.
Earlier today the Senate passed a motion calling on the Federal Government to establish a single national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
Survivors of child sexual abuse have been waiting their whole lives for redress for the crimes perpetrated against them as children.
It's time Mr Turnbull delivered a national redress scheme.
THURSDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2016
