AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
March 25, 2015
Paul Bibby
Court Reporter
Hopes for a single, national scheme to provide assistance and compensation for victims of child sexual abuse have been dealt a heavy blow, with the federal government stating that such a scheme is too complex, time consuming and costly.
The statements were made in a blunt, two-page submission to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which is trying to develop a redress scheme for those who have suffered abuse.
On Wednesday, the chairman of the commission, Justice Peter McClellan expressed disappointment that, while the Commonwealth government had accepted the need for “effective address” when it set up the commission, it now did not support what evidence showed was the most effective scheme.
Under the scheme proposed by the commission this year, the Commonwealth would have responsibility as a co-ordinator, and also as a “funder of last resort” – to provide financial support for victims when the institutions responsible were insolvent.
“It seems clear from the Commonwealth’s submission that it does not support a single national redress scheme,” Justice McClellan told a hearing, to discuss providing redress to victims, that was held in central Sydney on Wednesday.
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