Retta Dixon breakthrough: Access to National Redress Scheme
THE Morrison Federal Government’s announcement that Darwin’s notorious Retta Dixon Home will now be covered by the National Redress Scheme has been welcomed with jubilation.
Northern Territory
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THE Morrison Federal Government’s announcement that the notorious Retta Dixon Home will now be covered by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse has been welcomed with jubilation.
The decision allows survivors to have their applications progressed.
Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the government has agreed to be a Funder of Last Resort for the period prior to 1978 when the Northern Territory’s self-government arrangements came into place.
She said this announcement means more than 44 applications could now be progressed and encouraged all survivors who may have been holding off putting forward an application to now do for so consideration
“Increasing access to redress is so important because survivors have been waiting far too long for recognition they absolutely deserve,” she said.
“I want to encourage all survivors to come forward and access the Redress Scheme because we know the number of Indigenous Australians has been lower than expected.”
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The Morrison Government is also acting on its commitment to improve the scheme with the introduction of a Bill to parliament that will provide survivors of institutional child sexual abuse $10,000 upfront payments if they are terminally ill, over 70 or over 55 if they are Indigenous.
Eileen Cummings, who has spent years fighting for compensation as the chair of the NT Stolen Generations Corporation, said the Federal Government’s decision will comes a great relief for Retta Dixon survivors.
“It is great that the Federal Government has decided to pay Retta Dixon survivors,” she said.
“When the Retta Dixon has claims against it sometime ago and some people had success there were others that missed out.
“ we have been trying to see if there is someway these children could be paid.
So I am glad the Commonwealth has come to the party
“It is wonderful after all the fighting we have done.”
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