SA Government promises to ‘expedite’ Oakden compensation claims

ATTORNEY-General Vickie Chapman says Oakden families’ quest for compensation could be over “within weeks”, provided they supply further information.

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OAKDEN families’ quest for compensation could be over “within weeks”, provided they supply further information, Attorney-General Vickie Chapman says.

The families of residents abused or neglected at Oakden could have offers for payment soon, she said, if their lawyers lodged “particularised claims”, which required detailed medical records to be supplied.

The Advertiser revealed on Monday that family members of Oakden victims claimed they had been assured by Premier Steven Marshall in April that the process would be an easy one, and take “weeks, not months”.

Stewart Johnston – whose mother Helen was assaulted at Oakden – expressed frustration at the process, saying he was assured in meetings with both the current and former governments that their claims would be “clear cut” and be resolved quickly.

“We were told this was never going to be a traditional compensation claim and we wouldn’t have to jump through the usual hoops,” he said.

Mr Johnston told The Advertiser he had always maintained he would prefer a lump-sum payment rather than going through the full compensation process. But Ms Chapman said she had not previously been informed of this.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said she’d made it clear the Government wanted compensation claims expedited.

Stewart Johnston is seeking compensation for his mother Helen, who was assaulted at Oakden. Picture: AAP / Matt Loxton

“Historically the legal representatives for the family have not sought a one off payment … if that situation changes and we hear from their representatives to the contrary then obviously we’ll consider it,” she said.

Ms Chapman said she had made it “very clear” to Attorney-General’s Department staff that the Government wanted compensation claims “expedited” once they had been lodged.

A letter sent to senior government and SA Health figures in January from Mr Johnston’s lawyer, Rossi Legal’s Linda Appelbee, said Mr Johnston would “welcome an early settlement proposal”.

Rossi Legal represents seven of the 14 family members of Oakden residents seeking compensation.

Ms Appelbee confirmed she had yet to lodge some claims as “providing that kind of detail takes time”.

Mr Johnston’s’ frustration stemmed from the complexity of the process, she said.

“We’re going through what I’d call the usual compensation process but he is frustrated we have to jump through these hoops at all,” she said.

“I don’t think it’s helped by members of the Government meeting with them and saying it’s going to take weeks and not months when they’re not fully aware of the process.”