AS STATE governments around the country prepare to roll out the National Redress Scheme, survivors of institutionalised child sexual abuse are describing some aspects as “a kick in the guts”.
The scheme was made available to abuse survivors in NSW and Victoria on July 1, with the remaining states and territories in the process of preparing the necessary laws.
To be be administered by the federal Department of Social Services, it entitles survivors to compensation payments of up to $150,000 and a direct personal response from the responsible institution over the next 10 years.
Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) chief executive Leonie Sheedy said survivors were angry about decisions to cap payouts at $150,000 and to index those who had already received smaller payouts at 1.9 per cent.
“Indexing is the government’s word, but taxing is the care leavers word. Fancy taxing the poorest of abuse victims,” she said.
Ms Sheedy added that survivors were also angry the Royal Commission’s recommendation to index recipients of past payouts had been adopted, while other recommendations such as capping payouts at $200,000 were not.
“It’s a kick in the guts,” she said.
CLAN also wants support to be extended to survivors of psychological and all forms of physical abuse.
Group members gathered at Governor Macquarie Tower in Sydney on July 1 to observe a minute’s silence for people who had passed away and as a result would not receive redress or justice.
Social Services Minister Dan Tehan said the states, territories and Commonwealth decided on a cap of $150,000 so survivors would receive a higher average payment.
“Survivors will receive $11,000 more under this scheme than they would have under the scheme which had been put forward by the Royal Commission,” he said.
Mr Tehan said the commission had found it important to acknowledge governments and institutions that had already offered schemes.
He said the current scheme only applied to sexual abuse survivors because the parameters of the commission’s investigation had to be followed.
- www.clan.org.au