The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to improve the National Redress Scheme with a suite of legislative changes which passed Parliament today.
The National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment Bill 2023 now completes the implementation of all primary legislative measures from the Australian Government’s Response to the Final Report of the Second Year Review of the National Redress Scheme.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth emphasised that this new legislation was informed by input from victim-survivors, advocates and stakeholders.
“The passage of this Bill is a major milestone and reaffirms the resolve of this Government, and all states and territories, to listen to people with experience of the Scheme to make it more survivor-focused and trauma-informed,” Minister Rishworth said.
“This is not the end of our work. It is vital we continue to listen to victim-survivors so we can deliver responsive, effective changes that meet their needs and those of future applicants.”
“Every improvement to the scheme makes a real difference in the number of people we can reach and support.”
The changes to the National Redress Scheme that are now law are:
- allowing applicants to provide additional information when requesting a review of a finalised application
- reducing the circumstances where applications from those with a serious criminal conviction must undergo a special assessment process
- removing restrictions preventing incarcerated survivors from lodging an application, and
- enabling reassessment of finalised applications if a relevant institution later joins the Scheme (noting that this change will take effect at a later date).
The Scheme will contact applicants (or their nominees) who are affected by the changes, once they come into effect.
Please see the Final Government Response to the Second Year Review of the National Redress Scheme.
More information is available at the Department of Social Services website and the National Redress Scheme website.