AUSTRALIA
SBS News
June 18, 2018
Legislation establishing the national redress scheme for child sexual abuse survivors has passed parliament.
The $3.8 billion national redress scheme for child sexual abuse survivors has passed federal parliament, despite concerns it doesn’t go far enough.
The scheme is set to be operational on July 1 after Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers agreed not to delay the passage of legislation through the Senate.
The bill passed the upper house on Tuesday afternoon, after senators debated the scheme late into Monday night.
Victorian independent Senator Derryn Hinch angrily accused the government of “double-crossing” the parliamentary committee into the scheme he chaired.
He expressed surprise the maximum payout was in line with the Catholic Church’s push for $150,000 rather than the $200,000 recommended by the child abuse royal commission.
“I’ve been unable to find out not only who suggested the 150K, but also who lobbied for it and who signed off on it,” Senator Hinch told parliament.
He demanded to know how the figure was arrived at.
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