Vic child abuse time limits set to go

7 News
October 27, 2014

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/25357104/vic-child-abuse-time-limits-to-go/

Time limits could be removed for Victorian child abuse victims seeking compensation if the state government is re-elected.

The coalition government has released draft legislation to remove all limitation periods for civil claims relating to criminal child abuse.

Public comment is being sought on the legislation which Attorney-General Robert Clark said would proceed after the November state election if the coalition was re-elected.

"These reforms will mean that perpetrators, and those who have allowed abuse to occur, can no longer hide behind limitation periods to escape liability for the harm they have caused," Mr Clark said on Monday.

Victim rights group Broken Rites, in welcoming the draft legislation, said "clearly it's a good thing".

"It has been a long hard battle for victims to obtain justice and this is one step closer in that direction," spokeswoman Chris MacIsaac said.

The government said in May it would remove the time limits, as recommended by the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations.

Other reforms enacted following the release of the inquiry's Betrayal of Trust report include a requirement for ministers of religion to hold a working-with-children check and the introduction of an offence for a person to fail to notify police when they know or believe a child has been abused.