Victims Still Waiting for Redress Scheme

BY TYLER FARDELL

The Federal Government is looking to right the wrongs of the past, and provide support and compensation to victims of sexual abuse as a child.

However, many are concerned about the delays of introducing the Redress scheme, which was originally planned to be ready by this year, but now looks like to be implemented next year at the earliest.

The Redress scheme will provide some form of compensation to victims of abuse, be it monetary compensation or support through services like counselling.

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon has been appointed to a parliamentary committee which will oversee the scheme, and ensure it benefits all victims of abuse.

Mrs Claydon said it was a privilege to sit on the committee and help those who need it.

"The terrible shameful cases of child sexual abuse that were uncovered in our region were a key catalyst in the formation of the Royal commission four years ago", she said.

However, Ms Claydon said there is still much work to be done before a national scheme is in place.

"We were supposed to have a redress scheme in place by July this year, but here we are on the cusp of 2018 and the legislation is yet to pass the parliament and the Government still hasn't secured the agreement of the states".

Sharon Claydon MP

Royal Commission Wraps Up

BY IAN CROUCH

After more than 400 days of public hearings, the Royal Commission into child abuse, which focused heavily on the Hunter, draws to a close today.

A panel of six victims and abuse survivors will tell the Commission what they would like to see changed.

The Commission has looked at more than a million documents and has heard from 1200 witnesses.

The Commission will hand down its final report in December.

3rd Sex Abuse Victim To Front Royal Commission Today

BY IAN CROUCH

 A third child sex abuse survivor will today give evidence at the Royal Commission looking at alleged cover-ups within the Anglican Church in Newcastle.

The man , known as CKA, is expected to tell the hearing how he repeatedly tried to report being sexually abused by a Hunter priest in the 1970's .

He'll explain how he rang a church sexual abuse hotline, only to be answered by former Anglican Dean, Graeme Lawrence, who himself was later accused of sexual misconduct.


Former Anglican Bishop of Newcastle, Alfred Holland yesterday told the Commission he knew nothing about priests in the Diocese sexually abusing children during his 15 years at the helm.