Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania move ahead with redress

The National Redress Scheme continues to make progress with the state parliaments of Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania passing legislation in recent days.

Commonwealth Minister for Families and Social Services Paul Fletcher today commended the South Australian, Queensland and Tasmanian governments for doing their part to make the National Redress Scheme available to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

“This is a significant milestone as we work to bring redress to survivors of institutional abuse and I encourage these states to bring their legislation into effect as soon as possible,” Mr Fletcher said.

“For a survivor of institutional abuse to make an application for redress, the institution must have elected to participate in the National Redress Scheme, and there must be state legislation which has come into effect covering the state in which the institution was located.

“It is therefore very significant that the state parliaments of Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania have now passed legislation.

“The National Redress Scheme has been established following the Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It offers a streamlined national process for survivors of institutional sexual abuse to seek redress, as an alternative to protracted and uncertain litigation.

“We continue to work closely with institutions around the country to bring them into the Scheme as quickly as possible.”

The Scheme offers access to counselling, a redress payment and the option of a direct personal response from the institution responsible.

To find out more about the National Redress Scheme or connect with a support service visit www.nationalredress.gov.au or call the National Redress Scheme on 1800 737 377 Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm (local time) excluding public holidays.