Monday, 25 July 2016
- LNP to lift limitation period on child sex abuse civil claims if elected to government
- Move to empower survivors of child sex abuse to speak out in their own time
- LNP to consult with wide range of stakeholders in developing legislation
CHILD sex abuse survivors in the Bundaberg region will have better pathways to justice through an LNP plan to remove the limitation period on child sex abuse civil claims if elected to government.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said limitation periods acted as a significant barrier for survivors seeking justice for appalling past abuse, but the LNP’s policy would help survivors speak out in their own time.
“We want to empower child sex abuse survivors to seek the justice they deserve, no matter how long ago the alleged offence occurred,” Mr Bennett said.
“The current laws mean child sex abuse survivors in the Bundaberg and Burnett region have just three years from
their 18th birthday to lodge a civil claim against their alleged perpetrator.
“Many survivors find it too difficult to deal with the trauma involved in seeking justice for their abuse until well into their adulthood, but it is unfair to deny them justice in these circumstances.
“That’s why, if elected, an LNP Government will remove the limitation of claims, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse.” *
Mr Bennett said the LNP would seek to introduce legislation into Queensland Parliament within the first 120 days of government.
He said the LNP had a strong track record in government, including increased funding to support groups.
“In government, the LNP established the Child Protection Commission of Inquiry to chart a roadmap for the future of child protection,” he said.
“We supported survivors of crime in the Bundaberg and Burnett region by enabling them to read their victim impact statements before a sentencing court if wished and it was reasonable in the circumstances.”
*State and territory governments should introduce legislation to remove any limitation period that
applies to a claim for damages brought by a person where that claim is founded on the personal
injury of the person resulting from sexual abuse of the person in an institutional context when the
person is or was a child. (Recommendation 85 – Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to
Child Sexual Abuse – 14/09/2015)