State ‘letting victims down’

Greens push on abuse compensation

THE Tasmanian Government will face Estimates Committee questions over why funding for a national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child abuse was not included in the State Budget, Greens leader Cassy O’Connor says.

Ms O’Connor said the Government was “letting down” Tasmania’s estimated 1750 survivors who may be eligible for compensation under the redress scheme being established by the Federal Government.

However, acting attorneygeneral Matthew Groom said the Government was still discussing arrangements for the scheme with the Commonwealth, and those arrangements would need to be settled before funding commitments could be determined.

The national scheme was announced in November last year on the back of recommen- ALEXANDRA HUMPHRIES dations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and is expected to begin operating by mid next year.

The scheme will offer a maximum $150,000 payment and psychological counselling.

The Federal Government committed $33.4 million in this year’s Budget, while Tasmania’s contribution is expected to be about $13 million over the next 10 years.

Ms O’Connor said all states and territories were expected to commit funding to the scheme.

“The Tasmanian Government . . . knows it has to make a contribution, and I’m sure those Tasmanians who are the survivors of these terrible crimes will be wondering why the State Government hasn’t made any allocation and indeed hasn’t even stated that it’s committed to contributing to the national scheme,” she said.

“It’s very difficult to understand why the Government hasn’t made an allocation in this year’s Budget or across the Forward Estimates.”

Mr Groom said the Government remained committed to redress for abuse victims.

It implemented a redress scheme for abuse in state care between 2003 and 2013, and made ex-gratia payments of more than $54 million across the period.

Lifeline 13 11 14, 1800 Respect 1800 737 732, Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia 1800 211 028, MensLine Australia 1300 789 978.