PORTER MUST INTRODUCE REDRESS LEGISLATION FOR SURVIVORS

The Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter must urgently introduce legislation to establish a nationally consistent redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse.

 

The Government has had the final report from the Independent Advisory Council on Redress for some time, yet he has refused to release it.

 

Labor is concerned by a report in today’s The Australian that indicates an agreement on a national redress scheme is far from being finalised.

 

The Turnbull Government has needlessly delayed delivery of a national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse for years. 

The Government ignored the Royal Commission’s advice to make an announcement on a redress scheme by December 2015 and proceed quickly with negotiations.

When Mr Porter did announce the proposed redress scheme in November 2016 not a single state, territory or institution had agreed to join the scheme.

 

Ten months later there is still no legislation before the Parliament.

 

Mr Porter must say where the negotiations with the states and territories are up to.

 

Survivors of child sexual abuse deserve certainty and they need to know that a national redress scheme will be delivered soon.

 

The former Labor Government established the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2013.

 

Labor understands how important redress is to survivors of child sexual abuse.

 

The Turnbull Government must get on with the job of delivering a national redress scheme. It must introduce legislation into the Parliament.