City backs redress scheme involvement

The City of Karratha has agreed to take part in the National Redress Scheme as part of the State Government’s response.

At the recent council meeting, councillors unanimously supported taking part in the National Redress Scheme under the State Government.

The National Redress Scheme was launched in 2018 in response to a royal commission Redress and Civil Litigation report to recognise the harm suffered by survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

The scheme will run for 10 years. A City of Karratha officer’s report said while there had been no known incidents of child sexual abuse involving the City of Karratha, the City had run several facilities and programs in the past, and continued to, where abuse could have taken place. The motion means the City would be included and covered financially by the State Government for any claims under the Act.

The City said the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018 offered eligible applicants redress by way of an apology, funds for counselling and psychological care, and a payment of up to $150,000.

“The State Government is a participant of the scheme and have offered for all local governments to join the scheme and be financially covered for any claims from 1 July 2020,” it said.