Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff says victim-survivor’s huge payout should be a warning to govt

Former star student Katrina Munting was awarded a huge payout on Monday, which Greens leader says should send a message to the state government on future lawsuits. Here’s the latest.

Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Tuesday June 18, 2024.

A $2m payout to a victim-survivor of sexual abuse should send a message to the government about the risk and cost of taking a hard line with lawsuits, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff says.

Katrina Munting was awarded damages by the Supreme Court on Monday in a case she brought to the irreparable and irreversible damage she suffered because of abuse by a teacher.

Dr Woodruff said the government should learn from the case and apply the lessons to the negotiations underway in the class action brought by the victim-survivors of abuse at Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

“I hope the premier has heard very clearly the comments Ms Munting has made about the difficulties she had getting her case to court, about getting justice,” she said.

“All victims-survivors need to have a pathway which is trauma-informed, where they are supported, to bring forward their story and to get just compensation.”

Grace Tame, Katrina Munting and her husband Danny Munting at Parliament lawns, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Ms Munting was present in parliament when Dr Woodruff asked the premier about whether the government had set aside the hundreds of millions of dollars likely to be required in the Ashley case.

Mr Rockliff said negotiations were being conducted with sensitivity and respect.

“I’m advised the state is taking advice from the State Litigation Office and its external legal team as to the appropriate conduct of the matter, having careful regard to trauma-informed practice, the model litigant rules and the litigation guidelines,” he said.

“The state, through its agencies, is treating the conduct of the class action with the utmost respect and of course as you would appreciate priority as well.

“A dedicated team of people is working across multiple agencies, and indeed the private sector to bring about an appropriate resolution for all involved.”

He said he could not comment further because negotiations were ongoing.

Dr Woodruff said the government needed to stop fighting legitimate claims.

“Victims-survivors deserve to have just compensation and we are required to pay that,” she said.

“The evidence is that the more resistance the government puts against victim-survivors in bringing forward just cases, the longer and more expensive litigation cases will be, the more cost to the taxpayers, and the more pain and harm for victims survivors.

“The Premier must make sure that all parties involved in bringing the cases for compensation from the Solicitor-General down must be clear that they cannot fight tooth and nail to prevent victim survivors getting just compensation.”