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 MUST SUPPORT A NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME
The Turnbull Government must announce its support for a national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
In October last year Federal Labor announced our support for a National Redress Scheme. Labor is steadfastly committed to ensuring that survivors get access to support and redress for the pain and suffering they experienced, and continue to experience.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended that, if a National Redress Scheme was to commence operation by 2017, the Australian Government should determine and announce its support by the end of 2015.
The Turnbull Government has missed that deadline despite receiving the Commissions final report on redress in August last year.
Labor established the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2013 to give the thousands of people affected by these crimes an opportunity to finally be heard.
For more than two years the Commission has heard harrowing stories of abuse in institutions that were meant to care for children.
The time has come for the Turnbull Government to finally announce where it stands on national redress. The survivors deserve some answers.
Labor believes that all institutions must accept the legal, financial and moral responsibility for failing to protect children in their care.
But society also has a collective responsibility to provide redress to those for whom other avenues of justice are not available.
Mr Turnbull must announce his support for a national redress scheme immediately.
FRIDAY, 15 JANUARY 2016
