NSW child abuse law changes 'long overdue'

Herald Sun
February 16, 2016

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/time-limits-on-nsw-abuse-claims-scrapped/news-story/22837ace6561b7c43aeff2a5daa092d0

The scrapping of time limits on child abuse compensation claims in NSW are long overdue, says a lawyer who was involved in the notorious Fairbridge school case.

The NSW government has announced new legislation which will remove the limitation period in civil claims, and let child abuse survivors claim for damages regardless of the date of the alleged abuse.

The change is one part of the government's response to the child sex abuse royal commission's recommendations.

Slater and Gordon lawyer Roop Sandhu acted for former residents of the Fairbridge Farm School at Molong in country NSW and says the move is a step in the right direction.

"The limitation period reforms announced by the state government today bring NSW legislation in line with Victoria and are long overdue for the hundreds of victims of child sexual abuse we represented," Mr Sandhu said.

About 150 former Fairbridge residents reached a record settlement in 2015 after revelations emerged of shocking physical and sexual abuse.

The defendants in that case - the Fairbridge Foundation and the NSW and Commonwealth governments - used the time limitation statute in their defence, and the case dragged out for six years.

"Eight former residents started the action with us, but died before its resolution," Mr Sandhu said.

"For them, justice delayed was justice denied."

He called for a national redress scheme for survivors of child abuse, saying it would be an effective alternative to costly and psychologically damaging litigation.

"There is more that could be done," Mr Sandhu said.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to represent these survivors of child abuse, but I cannot help but think that there must be another way."

Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton said the government would release a consultation paper on some of the royal commission's other recommendations in coming months.