Lawyers for abuse survivors have labelled the Federal Government’s response to the Joint Select Committee report on the national redress scheme disappointing, saying it does not go far enough in improving the scheme for survivors.
Maurice Blackburn Abuse Law Principal Michelle James said the Committee’s report, which was released last April outlining urgently needed changes to the scheme consistent with the recommendations of the Royal Commission, deserved a more comprehensive and urgent response from the Federal Government.
“The Government have had 10 months to respond to the Joint Select Committee’s report, yet there is still a lack of urgency on key recommendations, including those that go to the heart of improving the scheme for survivors,” Ms James said.
“While we recognise that the Federal Government can’t act on all of these recommendations without the support of the states, many of the recommendations raised in the Committee’s report have been known problems within the scheme since its inception.
“It is now well past time for the Federal Government to finalise a response to these recommendations with the states and other jurisdictions, survivors have waited long enough and deserve a scheme that is designed to best meet their needs in providing access to justice,” she said
Ms James said this was particularly the case with respect to the Committee’s recommendations on maximum payments and a fairer assessment framework for survivors, both of which were recommendations not only of the Joint Select Committee but of the Royal Commission.
“There is no excuse
