Child sex abuse targets better protected under $127 million pledge
VICTIMS and those at risk of child sexual abuse in NSW will be better protected with the state government committing a multi-million dollar pledge to help implement key recommendations from the Royal Commission.
NSW
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VICTIMS and those at risk of child sexual abuse in NSW will be better protected with the state government committing an extra $127 million to help implement key recommendations from the Royal Commission.
The new money, which brings the NSW government’s total contribution to the redress scheme up to $570 million, will mostly go towards the prevention of child sexual abuse but will also help improve support for children and adult survivors.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the government had last night passed laws allowing survivors to sue institutions where they had been sexually abused as children, closing a legal loophole that had previously prevented them from taking action.
“NSW has continued to lead the way whether it’s in relation to the redress scheme, whether it’s in relation to providing support to survivors,” Ms Berejiklian said this morning.
“I want to make sure nobody else suffers at the hands of institutions or people who were there to protect the children — not commit those horrific acts which instead have ruined lives and caused so many in the community to have an adverse impact.”
Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward said the package was about ensuring all NSW organisations “promote a healthy child environment” and that workers are properly monitored.
“We’re also strengthening the ability of parents to know whether or not they are enrolling their child in a child-safe organisation, whether that’s the local ballet school or the local swim club,” she said.
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In addition to bolstering support and protection, $32.4 million will be dedicated to strengthening criminal justice responses to child abuse matters.
Two additional magistrates will also help manage the expected increase in workloads for child abuse cases.
Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the reforms would “mean that more abuse survivors will come forward”.
“More will take action in courts, more will report their cases to police and that means more business for our courts,” he said.
“That’s why as part of this package we’re announcing two extra Local Court magistrates to deal with the expected increase in workloads in child abuse cases.”
NSW was the first state to pass legislation for redress and introduce extensive criminal law reforms, including maximum life sentences for persistent child sexual abuse and new offences for failing to report or protect against child abuse.