Rowan Ramsey (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is depressingly obvious that so many young and vulnerable people have been failed by Australian institutions, both public and private, over a very long period of time. Institutions that have often worked to the net benefit of Australia and of those who are placed in their care have, nevertheless, failed thousands of individuals who have been wronged by the system, by society's collective neglect and by those institutions' dereliction of duty to the individual.

Sadly, the sensational stories that we read about in the press—and certainly there have been plenty emanating from my home state of South Australia concerning the operations of Families SA—are telling us that even today our systems are not perfect. Monsters are either harboured or at least allowed to operate within organisations that are charged with protecting children.

However, there is at least some good news. The Turnbull government has announced its intention to form a national redress system to provide support to those who have suffered sexual abuse in Commonwealth facilities. The government is determined that this should become a truly national scheme. Because it is important to have conformity across Australia, we are urging the individual states and private and religious based organisations to make this vehicle a one-stop shop for those who have suffered. Inevitably, all of the individual organisations must meet the cost of addressing the problems of those that they have failed. But I think it is very important that they come under one umbrella so at least those who have been violated know where to go to and will be getting the same type and level of attention that they would had they reported it in any state in Australia.

The scheme will allow for compensation of up to $150,000 per person, bringing it in line with the schemes that now operate in Victoria and New South Wales and that some of the major non-government institutions have adopted. It remains important that the rest of the states and organisations come on board so that people know they will receive the same attention from one end of Australia to the other. An independent advisory committee will be appointed as soon as possible—and I look forward to that so that we can get on with the job. The scheme will run for 10 years. Hopefully, by that time, the backlog of issues will have been addressed. If they have not, one would assume that the government of the day will come back to the table and reassess that position. But 10 years is a very suitable period of time and I thank the government for making that commitment.

This is not only important so that people can now receive the services and compensation that they need to try and ameliorate the damage that was done to them; it is a very important public recognition of the systems Australia-wide to deliver to individuals the care and protection that they should have. It is planned that the scheme will be operating by 2018. I look forward to that day. For the last 12 months, the government has tried repeatedly to bring all the parties on board. But we have not reached the level of cooperation that we had hoped for. That is why we have chosen to just get on with the job—to fulfil our obligations, to lead by example and to perhaps shame the stragglers to come on board. Well done to the government and the ministers responsible.

We apply ourselves to the errors of the past, but as legislators in this place it is important that we remain attuned to the needs of the children of today. There are not so many children held in institutions anymore, but some are living in unsafe environments. Some are removed from their home. Some homes are plainly terrible. Sometimes I think our institutions have lost the gumption to do they what they have to do—that is, removal. Whether the children are removed and put into foster care, or however they are cared for, we must make sure it is a safe and caring environment. I commend the motion to the House.

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