Public liability payouts to students in NSW tip $146m as Government settles 136 assault cases
Hundreds of millions of dollars in public liability claims have been paid out to students and parents at NSW schools in the past decade, as the Education Department reveals the shocking number of settlements for students physically or sexually assaulted. SEE THE FIGURES.
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Students and parents injured in our public schools have been paid out more than $146.8 million in public liability payments over the past 10 years — with a single claim costing the government $2.2 million.
Payouts in settled public liability claims on behalf of the NSW Education Department spiked to astronomical levels in 2015 to $21.7 million, again in 2018 when iCare paid out $25.9 million on behalf of the Education Department and once more 2019 when the figure for settled claims reached $18.4 million, according to Education Minister Sarah Mitchell.
In September, the Education Minister also revealed the department has settled a massive 136 cases of physical or sexual assault against students in the three financial years to 2019.
In a response to Labor MLC Courtney Houssos, Ms Mitchell said the total costs paid by the department in public liability insurance to iCare had increased from $17.4 million in 2011-12 to $21.6 million in the last financial year.
The government forked out a total of $165.3 million in taxpayer funds for insurance costs over the ten year period.
An Education Department spokesman said it “always act in good faith when resolving matters of this nature, putting the interests of victims first”.
He could not breakdown data on who received a settlement from the government.
“This might include students, parents or other visitors to a school but does not include workers compensation,” the spokesman told NewsLocal.
“The costs paid by the Department of Education in public liability insurance costs, include any excess payments such as out of pocket expenses, like counselling fees, investigation costs and other administration costs associated with the matter.
“NSW public schools are safe places and the safety of students and staff is prioritised — on occasion, incidents occur at schools as they do in the broader community.”
Figures released last month uncovered 544 current public liability claims against the Education Department — excluding workers compensation — which were opened and pending against the government.
In the five years to 2020, a total of 768 lump sum payments had been issued in liability settlements.
Shadow Education spokeswoman Prue Car called on the government to be “fully transparent” over compensation claims.
“Under this Liberal Government’s mismanagement, more than 100 million dollars has been forked out in hundreds of compensation suits, with 500 more claims still active,” she said.
“Why has the Education Minister failed to improve the safety of our schools, leaving hundreds of kids physically and psychologically injured and taxpayers footing the bill.”