Budget 2017: Child sex abuse victims to be compensated in Federal Budget

CHILD sex abuse survivors will get access to payments of up to $150,000 under a new redress scheme beginning mid next year.

COMMONWEALTH child sex abuse survivors will get access to payments of up to $150,000 under a new redress scheme to be live by mid next year.

The Turnbull government tonight announced a $33.4 million commitment to establish the scheme that would provide abuse survivors with counselling, apologies from the organisation responsible and financial compensation.

The funding will be used to establish IT services, an online presence and a direct hotline for victims to inquire about how they can apply for payments.

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“The Turnbull government has listened to survivors and accepts the recommendation of (the Royal Commission) that each jurisdiction and all individual institutions must make amends and take responsibility for wrongdoing,” a statement from Social Services Minister Christian Porter said.

The scheme will initially cover about 3000 abuse victims from Commonwealth organisations such as Defence, Immigration and indigenous Affairs.

However, it is hoped that other organisations such as the Catholic Church and various state-based institutions will opt in once the scheme is live.

Each state or organisation will be responsible for funding their own compensation payments.

From March next year victims will get access to a dedicated telephone helpline and website that will provide child sexual abuse survivors and their families information about the scheme.

From July, applications for payment will begin being processed with claims of up to 150,000 to be paid.

Financial compensation will be based on the severity of the abuse and impact on a victim’s life.

The commitment follows the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sex Abuse which heard evidence from thousands of victims.

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