AUSTRALIA
The Guardian
Joshua Robertson
@jrojourno
Monday 15 August 2016
Queensland could be the first Australian jurisdiction to enable victims of child sex abuse to revive previously settled claims against churches and schools under a state opposition proposal to broaden their legal rights.
With the Palaszczuk government tabling its bill scrapping age limits on abuse claims on Tuesday, the Liberal National party announced it would move amendments to allow victims to have a court strike down settlements made lower because they fell outside the statute of limitations.
Lawyers and advocates for victims have argued the ability to revive such claims is the key to fair redress and in line with recommendations by the ongoing royal commission.
The Queensland government, like the New South Wales and Victorian governments when they previously scrapped age limits on civil claims, declined to include scope for setting aside past settlements in its bill.
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