The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hold its first public hearing for 2021 on Friday.
The Committee will hear from representatives of the Department of Social Services.
This public hearing will focus on matters associated with the operation of the National Redress Scheme and its ongoing support of survivors, as well as the Government’s recent National Redress Scheme December 31 Deadline Update.
As at 1 January 2021, the Scheme has received a total of 9,117 applications, 4,530 payments have been made totalling about $377 million and a further 540 offers are awaiting an applicant’s decision.
Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith noted that the Government’s recent figures were very encouraging, but more needed to be done.
“We are still faced with several survivor groups that are being blocked from, or under-utilising, the redress owed to them – these must have the Committee’s urgent attention,” Senator Smith said.
