Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Fierravanti-Wells. Could the minister please provide an update on the National Redress Scheme?

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Brockman for this question. I know that he is very interested in this subject on behalf of Western Australians and all Australians. I thank him for his service as chair of the joint standing committee.

I am pleased to inform the Senate that the Senate has now passed legislation establishing this very important National Redress Scheme. We look forward to the Redress Scheme being truly national, delivering nationally consistent treatment for survivors. In recent weeks, we have seen our state and territory governments agree to join the scheme. I'm pleased that the Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Tasmania have expressed their commitment to provide redress. The Western Australian government has given a firm commitment to the Commonwealth that Western Australia will join the scheme, and we are hopeful of a public announcement shortly. Importantly, key non-government institutions have also opted in. These include the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Uniting Church, the Salvation Army, the YMCA and the Scouts.

With the passage of the bill through the Senate today, we have taken an important step in delivering a truly national and nationally consistent redress so that no survivors are left in limbo. This is a very good moment for this Senate and this parliament. I thank the Senate for its consideration and passage of this important piece of legislation.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brockman, a supplementary question.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for that answer, Minister. Why is this scheme important to the survivors of institutional child sexual abuse?

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This scheme is very important not only because we aim to deliver a nationally consistent redress but because it is tailored to offer valuable assistance to survivors. The Redress Scheme will provide survivors with a payment of up to $150,000. It will provide access to psychological counselling services and, if requested by the survivor, a direct personal acknowledgment and response from the responsible institution to acknowledge the wrongdoing and harm inflicted upon them. In addition, the government will be a establishing community based support services to support survivors during the redress application process, and survivors will also have access to free specialised legal support services. The National Redress Scheme will provide simple and supported redress for survivors.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brockman, a final supplementary question.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the minister aware of any other steps being taken to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse?

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week, the government released its response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Of the 409 recommendations, 84 deal with redress matters, which the government is addressing through the establishment of the National Redress Scheme. Of the remaining 325 recommendations, 122 are directed wholly or in part to the Australian government, and 104 of these 122 recommendations have been accepted or accepted in principle, with the other 18 noted or requiring further consideration. A national apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse will be delivered on 22 October, and a new National Office of Child Safety will be set up in the Department of Social Services from July this year.