Today the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2018 passed the Lower House.
This legislation is another critically important milestone that facilitates Tasmania’s formal participation in the National Redress Scheme.
The Bill will allow both the State and non-government institutions to formally participate in the national scheme.
The legislation ensures that Tasmanian applicants are able to access not just a financial payment, but also crucially provides access to counselling, as well as a direct personal response to the extent requested.
Whilst we can never undo the suffering experienced by so many, Tasmania’s involvement in the Scheme acknowledges the wrong that was done to Tasmanian survivors.
Today is a significant step towards organisations acknowledging and taking responsibility for the sexual abuse that happened to the children for which they owed a duty to care.