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	Redress to Pay Deceased Victims $5K Care Leavers Australia Network September 9, 2009 http://www.clan.org.au/news_details.php?newsID=210 The West Australian Government has announced ex gratia payments of $5,000 will be made to victims of child abuse in state care who have died before their application was finalised. Redress WA was set up under the previous Labor government to compensate people who suffered abuse in Australia's orphanages, children's homes and in foster care. Last month, the State Government cut the maximum payment for victims from $80,000 to $45,000. The Minister for Community Services, Robyn McSweeney, has now announced payments of $5,000 will be made to the estates of deceased victims. Ms McSweeney says Redress WA has identified 21 cases where victims have died before their claim was finalised. She says victims who are terminally ill can apply for an interim payment of up to $10,000. This afternoon a West Australian Federal Liberal MP joined about 100 people at State Parliament protesting against the Barnett government's changes to the Redress WA scheme. Today's protest was the second in two months. The Federal Member for Swan, Steve Irons, told the crowd his state Liberal colleagues had made the wrong decision. "As I said before I am a Liberal and a strong supporter of the Barnett Government, however they have got this one wrong," he said. "I ask Colin Barnett to reconsider. "I will continue to support the remembered Australians in pursuing a positive outcome."
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