National Redress Disappointment, Ballarat Hearing Resumes

By Francis Sullivan
Truth Justice and Healing Council
December 9, 2015

http://www.tjhcouncil.org.au/media/111694/151209-Blog-126-Redress-Ballarat-hearing-more.pdf

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This week AAP reports thousands of child sex abuse survivors expecting the Turnbull government to commit to a national redress scheme before Christmas face bitter disappointment.

According to the AAP report hopes the government would, in line with the final recommendation of the child abuse royal commission, announce by year's end its backing of a $4.3 billion scheme are fading, principally because some states are reluctant to come on board.

NSW and Victoria support a national scheme. South Australia doesn’t. Other states are yet to commit. But the states have written to the Prime Minister asking him to clarify the Federal Government’s position.

The Church supports a national scheme that will provide justice for victims. It will be transparent, independent of the Church and other institutions and relatively generous, given the burden of proof will be limited and victims who suffered at the hands of perpetrators who have died will still get access to compensation.

As the work of the Royal Commission continues, it’s clear that while a diabolical number of perpetrators have come from the Catholic Church, other institutions have not escaped the scourge of the abuse of children in their care.

Every week I get calls from survivors of abuse who want to know what is happening - what is coming out of the Royal Commission for victims?

I say to them that the Church backs a national redress scheme, that we have issued guidelines to Church Authorities to ensure they provide an entity that can be sued, backed by insurance and/orassets and that the Council will hopefully be able to make an announcement in the new year regarding an independent body that will set, monitor and report on standards that affect children and vulnerable people in the Church.