AUSTRALIA
Brisbane Times
Amy Remeikis
The Queensland Parliament took a step forward in giving institutional child sex abuse survivors greater, and fairer grounds for seeking civil justice, but for the LNP and cross bench, it did not go far enough.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk personally introduced the bill that will remove the statute of limitations for those who suffered abuse while in institutions. Other measures, which include expanding that offer to those who suffered abuse outside institutions – such as families – will be decided after consultation.
But the Opposition, which had indicated it would pass similar laws if it won government at the next election, doesn’t believe Labor’s laws go far enough.
In a rare show of genuine emotion, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls fought back tears as he detailed why.
“The existing legislation—that is, the legislation to be amended by the bill introduced by the Premier—needs amending because it ignores the fact that in many cases psychological damage is neither diagnosed, apparent nor even brought to the attention of the appropriate medical professionals within these time frames,” he said.
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