AUSTRALIA
SBS
Melbourne’s Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart wants governments to back a redress scheme providing a level playing field for child sex abuse victims.
Archbishop Hart, victims’ advocates and the states want specific details about how the federal government’s planned Commonwealth redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse will work, including how complaints will be assessed.
He has called on governments to support a national scheme, amid doubts that all states, territories, churches and charities will take part in the opt-in scheme and provide their share of restitution.
“I urge all governments to support a scheme that provides survivors with equal access and treatment no matter in which jurisdiction or institution the alleged abuse occurred,” Archbishop Hart said.
The Melbourne archdiocese has doubled its maximum compensation payments to $150,000, in line with the cap under the national scheme.
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