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NSW and VIC govts applauded for supporting national redress scheme
6th Nov 2015
The New South Wales and Victorian governments are to be congratulated for being the first states to support a national compensation scheme for victims of institutional child sexual abuse, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
ALA spokesperson Dr Andrew Morrison SC welcomed the announcement by the NSW and Victorian governments that they will become funders of last resort for any compensation scheme for child sexual abuse victims to cover any shortfall from non-government institutions.
Dr Morrison called on all governments to support a national redress scheme and complete a framework to better support survivors of abuse.
“The ALA welcomes the announcement by the New South Wales and Victorian governments for their support for a national redress scheme to provide a pathway to justice for survivors of abuse,” Dr Morrison said.
“It is time for all states to introduce similar legislation to ensure that there is a consistent approach nationwide for survivors of abuse to be able to access justice.
“This is important so that survivors, no matter what state is applicable to their legal claim, would not face this significant barrier,” Dr Morrison said.
It is anticipated that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will discuss institutional responses to child sexual abuse, and the recommendations of the Royal Commission, at its next meeting.
Dr Morrison said that the announcements by NSW and Victoria were a timely reminder that there are many victims of historical child sexual abuse who still seek justice for treatment they suffered decades ago, and that justice is still available at common law.
“It is clear that institutional responses to child sexual abuse to date have been grossly inadequate,” Dr Morrison said.
“Governments must ensure that their responses will provide justice to survivors and open the way forward for fair compensation.”
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