AUSTRALIA
Gold Coast Bulletin

[with video]

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…