Ministerial Statement

National Redress Scheme

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (16:17): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: The National Redress Scheme for institutional child sexual abuse was established in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The scheme is an important means of acknowledging the inexcusable crimes committed against children in Australian institutions and ensuring they are offered proper financial compensation and emotional assistance. While nothing can undo their horrific experiences, the Marshall Liberal government has committed to the scheme to demonstrate our support for those who have suffered in our state.

The state's redress response unit is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the scheme. It sits within my department and it has provided me with an update on the efficacy of the scheme to date. Two years in, the scheme has received 9,642 applications nationwide and 4,942 redress payments have been made to survivors, totalling approximately $414.1 million, with the national average redress payment being $83,783. In South Australia, I am proud to say that the average redress payment for applicants was higher than the national average, at $90,206.44.

As at 22 March 2021, the state redress response unit has received 888 requests for information with respect to 399 applicants. The state redress response unit has assisted South Australian government institutions in responding to 840 of these requests for information. Of these applicants, 268 applications have been determined, 223 applicants have been offered redress and 202 of those offers have been accepted. The total accepted redress payments for which the South Australian government is responsible amounts to $18,221,700.63.

I am delighted to report that more survivors of institutional abuse in South Australia will be better supported after the Marshall Liberal government agreed to include local governments in the scheme. This is a significant step forward in the scheme, extending its scope to cover all 68 local councils and the relevant institutions that they manage. The cost of any claims against local government institutions will be managed through the $146 million set aside by the state government to cover payments.

Addressing the wrongs of the past is a responsibility that South Australian governments share, both state and local. Through this commitment, we are ensuring that victims have access to these supports without potentially overwhelming local government with the cost. This government's work in this area is ongoing. On 9 March, I attended via video link the national Survivor Roundtable for the scheme, chaired by Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston.

The Survivor Roundtable was an important opportunity for survivors and survivor advocacy groups to have greater input into matters related to the scheme's operation and also goes towards ensuring that the scheme operates and is administered in a survivor-focused and trauma-informed manner. I welcomed the opportunity to provide an address to attendees at the round table where several important issues were raised by survivors and survivor advocacy groups.

It is anticipated that these issues emanating from the Survivor Roundtable will be canvassed in the second anniversary review of the scheme, to which I provided a submission. In my submission, I requested that consideration be given to maximising participation of non-government institutions in the scheme. It is imperative that as many survivors as possible are able to access redress, irrespective of the institution responsible for their abuse. I have also written to non-government institutions encouraging them to join.

I am pleased to advise members that there are currently no non-government organisations in South Australia that are refusing to participate. I am hopeful that all the non-government institutions that were publicly named on 4 January 2021 will follow through with their commitment.

As the minister responsible for redress in South Australia, I look forward to carefully considering the recommendations of the second anniversary review and to discussing the final report with my colleagues at the next meeting of the Ministers Redress Scheme Governance Board in April. I take this opportunity to thank the independent reviewer, Ms Robin Kruk AO, for her work in undertaking this important work to further improve the scheme. Finally, I thank the state redress response unit for their important ongoing work and commitment to implementing and overseeing the scheme in South Australia.