AUSTRALIA
Brisbane Times
Christopher Knaus
The government is under pressure to move swiftly to scrap time-limits making it harder for historical child abuse victims to sue for damages.
NSW, Victoria and the federal government have all moved in recent months to remove the statute of limitations which prevented survivors from suing after too many years had passed.
The states were acting in response to the child abuse royal commission, which recommended last year that limitations be scrapped, that it be done retrospectively, and that a consistent approach be taken across jurisdictions.
It also recommended the establishment of a national redress scheme that would begin hearing applications for compensation by survivors in July 2017.
The ACT is yet to make a move on scrapping its time-limit, which is generally six years from the cause of the civil action or from the time the child turns 18.
A spokesman for the ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said the government was pushing for the establishment of the national redress scheme.
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