AUSTRALIA
Lawyers Weekly
The Queensland Government is moving to do away with restrictive time limits for certain child sexual and physical abuse compensation claims, but while the law change is welcomed, it doesn’t go far enough, writes Mark O’Connor.
While it’s good that Queensland is following NSW to remove claims limitation periods that have previously blocked claims made more than three years after abuse occurred, the Queensland plan is flawed.
Victims of child sexual and physical abuse will no longer face tough limitation periods when seeking compensation in NSW. Reports state about 22,000 people are expected to benefit from the change.
Following repeated calls for Queensland to fall into line with NSW’s stance, the Queensland Government is introducing legislation to end the three year time limit period in this state. But the move is baffling because it only applies to victims of sexual abuse by, at or connected to institutions.
The issue has now been further complicated by a second piece of proposed legislation, a private member’s bill by independent MP Rob Pyne, which would remove claims time limits for all victims.
As one of Queensland’s most senior personal injury lawyers, I am troubled that the State’s proposed legislation would create two classes of victims.
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