THE HON JENNY MACKLIN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES & PAYMENTS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DISABILITY REFORM
MEMBER FOR JAGAJAGA
THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
SENATOR CLAIRE MOORE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CARERS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNITIES
SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND
TURNBULL GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS NO SINGLE 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 child sexual abuse.
Bill Shorten asked Malcolm Turnbull:
Australians have been shocked and angered by evidence given at the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse.
The Royal Commission's Final Report on Redress and Litigation recommended a single national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse in September last year.
Labor committed to a single national redress scheme in October last year.
Will the Prime Minister join with Labor and commit to a single national redress scheme for the survivors of child sexual abuse?
Bill Shorten MP, House of Reps, 3rd March 2016
Mr Turnbull and Social Services Minister Christian Porters response confirmed that there will be no single national redress scheme.
Mr Porter stated:
A national scheme or a national approach, and we favour the latter.
Christian Porter, House of Reps, 3rd March 2016
Mr Porters favoured option of a state-by-state scheme coordinated nationally was identified by the Royal Commission as being vastly 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 and Mr Porter's answers fail to give survivors any certainty that they will get the redress they deserve, and they still cannot explain the details of their plan or give any indication as to when it will start.In fact its clear they haven't even begun to negotiate.
The government has already ignored the Royal Commission's advice to make an announcement on the scheme by December 2015 and proceed quickly with negotiations.
Survivors of child sexual abuse have been waiting their whole lives for recognition of the crimes perpetrated against them as children. They have waited long enough.
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
THURSDAY, 3 MARCH 2016
