Child abuse compensation decision due end of January

Gold Coast Bulletin
January 13, 2016

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/national/child-abuse-compensation-decision-due-end-of-january/news-story/b1a5c9979fc03cd3bf2d277f7a8de535

Under scrutiny ... Melbourne Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart at a royal commission hearing.

Abuse victim ... Timothy Green at a hearing into abuse in the Ballarat diocese.

Brave heart ... Barrister Jeff Hunter with witness Gilbert Case appears at the Brisbane sittings of commission.

AUSTRALIA will know in two weeks whether it will have a national compensation scheme for survivors of shocking abuse in orphanages, children’s homes and other institutions.

A spokesman for Social Services Minister Christian Porter has confirmed to AAP that an announcement - the federal response to a royal commission recommendation for a national redress scheme - will be made by the end of January.

He declined to comment on whether the Turnbull government would back the $4.3 billion proposal, rejected as too complex and expensive when Tony Abbott was in power, but expectations are high the go-ahead for a single national scheme will be given.

Since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse made final redress recommendations six months ago, tens of thousands of abuse survivors - as well as state and faith-based institutions who could have to collectively contribute billions of dollars - are anxiously awaiting federal direction.

The commission proposed the best way to provide justice for abuse survivors was a national scheme funded by the institutions - government and non-government - and administered and underwritten by the federal government.

The national response would treat all survivors equally, getting some monetary compensation - between $10,000 and $200,000 - as well as help with long term counselling and psychological care.

In October Opposition Leader Bill Shorten committed any future ALP government to implementing the commission’s recommendation, and said it would provide $33 million seed money to set it up.

In September attorneys-general from all states and territories wrote to their federal counterpart George Brandis asking for a clear direction because of the legal and financial ramifications of a national scheme.

It is expected Senator Brandis will make the public announcement just days before parliament resumes on February 2.

In the past two months the matter has been discussed at COAG meetings, and an adviser to Prime Minister Turnbull has been sounding out stakeholders, including the Catholic Church and advocacy group Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN).

Mr Turnbull is a patron of CLAN, which has been lobbying for redress for years.

CLAN executive Leonie Sheedy said many care leavers needed urgent help now.

The oldest member of CLAN is 100 years old in June and like many “clannies” has spent a lifetime struggling with childhood trauma.

The Catholic Church backs a national scheme. In November a spokesman told AAP it had estimated its contribution could come to a billion dollars over 10 years.

The NSW and Victorian governments also said they would be part of a national scheme.

The South Australian Labor government said in November it would not contribute to a national compensation scheme but more recently said it was waiting to see the commonwealth response before making a final decision.