Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
A national redress scheme for victims of institutionalised sexual abuse was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse.
The Tasmanian Government needs to be an active participant in any national scheme of redress for survivors of child abuse in institutional settings.
While the Royal Commission report on redress was handed down on the 14th of September last year, the Tasmanian government has not yet made a commitment to contributing towards a redress scheme for Tasmanians who were abused.
The Tasmanians who presented to the Royal Commission told harrowing stories of their suffering at the hands of Church authority figures who grossly abused their trust and caused lifelong harm to their victims.
They need to know that both Commonwealth and State governments will share responsibility for being funders of last resort, with the redress scheme to be primarily funding by responsible institutions.
Federal and State Greens elected representatives today launched a national campaign to progress the Royal Commission recommendations for a national redress scheme, including for counselling services and compensation.
Tasmania commenced a Claims of Abuse in State care Program in July 2003, which over a decade paid more than 1,800 ex-gratia payments totalling almost $55M. This scheme assisted Tasmanians who were abused in state care only.
Tasmanians who suffered abuse outside the state care system have never been formally acknowledged or compensated.
This is about access to justice for Tasmanians who suffered at the hands of people who abused their trust.
The Royal Commission has recommended that a national redress scheme commence on the 1st of July 2017, with monetary payments available to eligible survivors from the 1st of July 2018.