More than 300 groups still on child sex abuse redress shame file

More than 300 institutions are being pursued for failing to sign up to the National Redress Scheme for child sex abuse survivors.

Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston. Picture Gary Ramage

More than 300 institutions are being pursued by the Morrison government for failing to sign up to the National Redress Scheme for survivors of child sex abuse.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the government would “name and shame” schools, religious organisations, community groups, sporting clubs and charities that do not sign up to the scheme by the June 30 deadline.

Groups that refuse to join may also face financial sanctions and changes to their charitable status.

At the beginning of April, there had been 6605 applications from victims to the program and 1587 payments totalling more than $128m.

An extra 325 redress offers were made but had not yet been accepted by the applicant.

The Australian understands Jehovah’s Witnesses, Swimming Australia and Catholic charity Sisters of Nazareth are among the groups targeted to join the scheme recommended by the child sex abuse royal commission.

There have also been 12 institutions that have declined to join.

“It is absolutely unacceptable for any institution where child abuse occurred to deny survivors the redress they are so desperately owed,” Senator Ruston said. “Not only is joining the scheme the right thing to do for survivors but it also gives the community confidence that the institutions take child safety seriously.

“As a matter of urgency I am writing to about 300 institutions named in applications or by the royal commission to warn them that failure to fulfil their moral obligation to join the scheme will have consequences.

“This will include being named and shamed and the ­(Redress Scheme Governance Board) continues to consider other appropriate action that may be taken against recalcitrant institutions including financial sanctions and changes to an ­organisation’s charitable status.”

The Redress Scheme Governance Board is made up of federal, state and territory ministers who are responsible for overseeing the program.

Eighty-five institutions have joined the redress scheme this year, up from 20 over the same period last year, taking the total number of non-government signatories to 185.

New signatories include The King’s School, Brisbane Grammar School, Sisters of Charity and the Anglican Youth and Education Diocese of Sydney.

Australian Olympic Committee head of communications Strath Gordon said all the Olympic sports wanted to sign up to the scheme by the June 30 deadline.

He said representatives from AOC and Swimming Australia held a meeting with Senator Ruston and Sport Minister Richard Colbeck in February where they outlined concerns with the scheme. “We talked through the issues and we have currently got submissions with government,” Mr Gordon said.

“The sports want to join the scheme but there are some ­inherent issues that need to be sorted. It is around insurance. Participation wouldn’t be covered by insurance that the sporting ­organisations have.”

The 302 institutions being chased by the government were either identified in the royal commission or were named in applications to the scheme. They include six charities, 65 community organisations, 34 education facilities, 58 religious organisations and 18 sporting organisations.

The scheme helps those abused to gain access to counselling and a payment up to $150,000.