National apology and redress scheme form part of the Federal Government’s response to Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
THE Prime Minister has revealed the Federal Government’s response to the Royal Commission into institutional child sexual abuse.
National
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PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull will deliver a national apology to the survivors, victims and families of institutional child sexual abuse on October 22.
The Federal Government today revealed its formal reply to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse’s final report, released in December.
Mr Turnbull said 104 of the Royal Commission’s 122 recommendations directed wholly or partly at the Commonwealth, have been accepted. This includes setting up redress scheme.
The remaining 18 recommendations, which generally require coordination with state or local authorities, require more work but haven’t been rejected. In total the Royal Commission delivered 409 recommendations.
It’s hoped a National Redress Scheme will be up and running by July 1 after the Western Australian government agreed to participate.
The maximum payment will be $150,000, lower than the $200,000 the Royal Commission recommended but the average payment will be $11,000 higher than recommended at $76,000.
Attorney-General Christian Porter said the scheme was meant to be “non-litigious” so there will be low standards of evidence, mainly based around a paper application, required to prove the abuse.
“It’s relatively low … to make sure that they’re dealt with in a way that doesn’t re-traumatise survivors,” he said.
Social Services Minister Dan Tehan said 93 per cent of survivors were expected to be covered by the scheme and it’s hoped the Senate will approve it in the next fortnight.
Mr Turnbull said everyone in Australia had a vested interest in protecting the safety of each other’s children.
“They are our future and we owe it to them,” he said.
“We owe it to them not to turn a blind eye to abuse … and we certainly owe it to them to ensure their safety is put first.”
A national office for child safety is also expected to be set up in the Social Services Department and to commence from July 1 to progress a national framework for child safety and develop principles for child-safe organisations.
Federal minister David Gillespie has been given responsibility for children’s policy issues.
Originally published as National apology and redress scheme form part of the Federal Government’s response to Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
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