Victims of historic child sexual abuse are one step closer to justice today with the announcement of a federal redress scheme.
NSW must now lead the way in opting in to the scheme and implementing each of the Royal Commission’s redress recommendations when its final report is released at the end of the year.
Greens MP and Justice spokesperson David Shoebridge said:
“The announcement of a federal redress scheme is a welcome move, it is what victims, survivors and their families have been demanding for years and NSW must lead the way in opting in.
“While we will be closely reviewing the legislation to ensure it is comprehensive, this is undoubtedly a win for survivors of abuse who have been campaigning for a federal redress scheme for over a decade.
“We are concerned about the breadth of the exclusions because many victims of abuse have had troubled lives including involvement in the criminal justice system. Excluding these people from fair compensation only compounds the unfairness in their lives.
“Financial compensation is about justice and fair recompense for the damage caused by the Church’s, or institutions, failings.
“In 2012 the Greens called for a Royal Commission, now five years later a federal redress scheme is being handed down and the report of that Royal Commission is about to be delivered.
“We know that powerful institutions like the Catholic Church will do everything they can to avoid paying their share of this compensation, that’s why a federal redress scheme is crucial to bringing justice for victims.
“This is just the beginning. NSW must now take the lead and implement each of Royal Commission’s redress recommendations to deliver justice for victims of historic child abuse,” Mr Shoebridge said.
