Sexual Abuse Victims Set to Get Access to Compensation

By Rebecca Urban
The Australian
May 19, 2017

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/sexual-abuse-victims-set-to-get-access-to-compensation/news-story/f3c392782a9ad2bdc31bc303398a7994

The federal government is expected to release draft legislation for the Commonwealth Redress Scheme for survivors of sexual abuse by August and is confident the states and territories, as well as non-government groups, will choose to take part.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter today met with state and territory attorney’s general as well as the heads of major churches and charities in a bid to work out arrangements for the scheme, which will provide financial compensation as well as support services to a potential 60,000 claimants across the country.

Mr Porter has encouraged them all to opt-in to the scheme, arguing that a national approach was the best way to ensure that victims received redress as recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

“There was a large amount of good faith and very positive contribution.” he said following the meeting, which was held in Melbourne.