A National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse will be a top priority if Labor is elected on July 2nd, the Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said today.
Ms. King said Labor recognises that a National Redress Scheme is a matter of the upmost importance.
“We’ve had an appalling situation in this country where children in the care of institutions were subjected to appalling sexual abuse and terrible violence. As a government, we will stand by them,” Ms. King said.
“The establishment a National Redress Scheme is a key recommendation of the Royal Commission and I firmly believe it is an important part of the healing process. I can assure my community of Ballarat, under a Labor Government, it will happen. No ifs, no buts,” she said.
“No country should stand by and let perpetrators get away with these crimes nor should we hamper the healing process,” Ms. King said.
“I don’t think any fair minded person in the Ballarat community would oppose the establishment of a National Redress Scheme,” she said.
In its final report, the Royal Commission determined that around 60,000 survivors of child sexual abuse should be given access to redress.
“Labor is committed to ensuring victims from the Ballarat region and further afield get the redress they deserve and the cost must be met by institutions responsible for the perpetrators of the abuse.
This includes financial compensation and counselling,” Ms. King said.
Labor will contribute $33 million to the National Redress Scheme of which $20 million will go towards the establishment a National Redress Agency.
“This initial $20 million contribution will support the National Redress Agency to work with state and territory governments and report directly to the Attorney General,” she said.
“As the Member for Ballarat, I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary men and women in our local community who have survived horrific abuse at the hands of institutions who have shared their painful accounts with the Royal Commission,” Ms. King said.
“As a society, we must fix the wrongs of the past. I am determined to work with Bill Shorten and my Labor colleagues to ensure that justice is finally delivered to the many thousands of people who were mistreated, abused, assaulted and degraded by members of institutions supposedly there to protect them,” she said.
Authorised by G. Wright, Australian Labor Party, 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton, ACT 2600