Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) expresses its ongoing support for the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse;

(b) acknowledges the pain and suffering of survivors of child sexual abuse;

(c) expresses its ongoing support for survivors of child sexual abuse; and

(d) encourages survivors to keep coming forward.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is committed to the implementation of recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. However, it must be noted by the Senate that many recommendations deal with redress and that their acceptance requires the agreement of the Ministers Redress Scheme Governance Board, made up of responsible ministers from Commonwealth, states and territories. The government acknowledges encourages survivors and victims of institutional child sexual abuse as well as their families and their supporters.

Stirling Griff (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Stirling Griff (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Centre Alliance supports this motion and wants it noted that survivors of institutional child sexual abuse are waiting too long for redress scheme payments. The government has acknowledged that some survivors have died before receiving financial compensation. This is a travesty. The latest data, as at 24 April, shows that there are 526 survivors waiting to have their claims processed because named institutions have not joined the scheme, despite the scheme having commenced over two years ago. Institutions that are stalling or are refusing to join the scheme are compounding the severe trauma of survivors, who need resolution so they can continue their path to healing. Those institutions who fail to join deserve to be named and shamed, and the clock is ticking.

Question agreed to.