Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on a crucial moment in our commitment to addressing the profound impact of institutional child sexual abuse with the introduction of the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment Bill 2023. Today again, we stand at the threshold in our nation's quest for healing and justice for all the people who were so badly wronged. I want to begin by acknowledging and recognising the courageous individuals who have stepped forward, shared their stories and advocated for justice. Their bravery propels us forward in our mission to create a safer and more just society. The National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment Bill 2023 is a testament to our collective commitment to ensuring survivors are seen, heard and supported on the path of healing.

The measures in this bill are brought forward from survivor consultation, because it's their voices that have been silenced for so long. It is our job to amplify them, give them a platform and make the changes needed to improve the system to better protect survivors. I'm proud to be part of the party that stood by, believed and fought for survivors of institutional sexual assault. The original Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was established under the former Labor government of Prime Minister Gillard. This pivotal legislation builds upon the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and reflects on the Australian government's steadfast dedication to tackling a very deeply sensitive issue.

The bill lays before us presenting us a new opportunity to take substantial steps forward in alleviating the ongoing trauma and pain experienced by survivors. While the original redress scheme was a crucial first step, this bill acknowledges the shortcomings and seeks to rectify them. It's not merely an amendment; it's a powerful statement of our government's collective commitment to creating a society where healing and hope prevail over the trauma and silence. The pace of its progress has been because the recommendations and their implications have been carefully considered to improve survivors' lives and outcomes. We want to make sure that there is justice, and through this bill we can do that and continue the journey of bringing and holding to account the institutions that turned a blind eye—in some cases deliberately—to such heinous acts. It's not a partisan issue; it's a human issue. I urge all members to stand with the government, united in our support for this vital legislation. Let us demonstrate our unwavering commitment to survivors by passing the bill swiftly and ensuring its effective implementation.

Together, we can create a more just and compassionate society. The bill recognises the need for ongoing support by strengthening partnerships with support services and providing survivors with greater access to counselling and other resources. The bill addresses another critical issue that has hindered the scheme's effectiveness, and that is accessibility. The bill eliminates unnecessary barriers, reducing the reliance on special assessments, allowing additional information during reviews and enabling applications from incarcerated individuals. This ensures a more inclusive and trauma-informed approach. The bill enhances transparency by allowing reassessments of finalised applications if new institutions join the scheme, empowering survivors with the knowledge that their cases can be reconsidered. The bill addresses concerns about the treatment of serious criminal convictions, ensuring a balanced approach that considers individual circumstances and avoids blanket exclusions.

I would especially like to highlight how this amendment will give applicants to the scheme the option to have applications reassessed if they have been finalised before the relevant institutions join the scheme or if the government has agreed to act as a funder of last resort. This means, when the institutions finally join the scheme, survivors who were previously denied justice for bureaucratic reasons can reapply and receive the compensation and voice that they deserved all those years ago.

Across the nation there are now over 600 non-government organisations participating, such as churches, schools, homes, charities and community groups, covering more than 71,000 sites. By enacting these changes, we anticipate a profound impact on the lives of survivors. By ensuring more consistent outcomes, we increase the certainty that survivors will see justice. The increased access to redress will not only provide financial security but ensure that the stories are being heard and believed. Improved support services will equip survivors with the necessary tools to cope with the lasting effects of abuse. The bill sends a powerful message that institutions must be held accountable for their actions. Survivors must not be silenced.

This reminds me of the time I met one of the survivors of institutional abuse when, in the Victoria government, we do a similar thing. I went outside and I saw this bloke, who'd obviously had a pretty hard life. He'd been in and out of incarceration. He'd really struggled with substance abuse. This was back in the days when I was smoking. I walked up to him and I said, 'Big day. How are you going? Do you want a smoke?' and he said, 'Yeah.' So I said, 'How are you feeling?' and his words have stuck with me ever since. He said, 'It's not about the money.' It was about getting that letter from the Premier and the minister at the time that said that someone finally believed him. For decades this man had been trying to tell his story and he was just pulled from pillar to post. He was being told it never happened and was having the institution involved deliberately and systematically cover it up. For him, it was about having that piece of paper that said: 'Yes. We've heard you. We hear you and we believe you.'

I think that's the most important thing. When I hear the stories of people I know who have gone through similar situations, it's the trauma they faced during decades of not being heard, not being believed and not being listened to. I know of situations where systematic cover-ups were happening out in the electorates that border mine. Children were told: 'If you say anything, you're attacking the church; therefore, you're attacking God.' That's not the case. Children should be able to speak up and should have their voices heard. It's so important, for each individual, that we listen to these stories.

I think this bill, as noted in the government's final response, prioritises survivor wellbeing, safety and health. Consideration was given to the risk concerning participation—the retraumatisation and the introducing of inequity between survivors. This bill fixes the gaps and legislates technical amendments to ensure a fairer and more consistent approach. This government's main concern has been the protection of the wellbeing of survivors. They've already gone through hell, and we owe it to survivors to make sure the redress process is as smooth as possible. Often the process of getting justice, while liberating when justice is achieved, can be long and tedious, and when the processes aren't right, it's all too painful. There are many stories of people—victims—who just don't want to come forward because they don't want to relive that trauma. They don't want to have to go through that process. It's unfair and it's wrong. I think all of us would agree that we need to address this, and address it very quickly.

Even after this scheme was initially introduced, while it did bring the justice it promised, the long delays in the application process meant many survivors were left with uncertainty and silence. I raised these complaints during the time of the former government, as residents of our electorate had been left in the dark for up to 12 months. This unnecessary delay caused extreme frustration and hurt. A process that already dredged up some of the most painful memories for people was made even harder by the seeming indifference and apathy shown by the bureaucracy. People who had been dealing with terrible emotional and physical damage were being left to deal with even more stress and pain while seeking justice. That's what this bill is fixing.

This government, the Albanese Labor government, is making sure survivors can come forward and get the compensation and validation for those crimes committed against them. Our government is making sure your voices are being heard. While it's something that should go beyond the politics, this has been a major talking point in the history of what happened. The track record of the former government was less than stellar in this area. While the renewed political will on these issues is welcome, we need to make sure that never again do we have steps that drag it backwards. We also have to make sure that the apathy that led to robodebt and destroyed the lives of ordinary Australians never happens again.

The redress process was prolonged and added to the strain for people who had been abused and unheard by the system for far too long. It's time that we just continue to get this done quickly. The bill makes sure that the scheme is supported, no matter who is in government and no matter the political will of the day.

As I said, this is an issue that should go beyond politics, as the voices of survivors should always be heard and believed. We will always stand up, advocate and legislate for survivors of institutional abuse. This is what the bill before us does today, and it's what the law will do in the future.

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