Victims of institutional sexual abuse in Australia will be entitled to more than 100,000 U.S. dollars in compensation under a government scheme announced on Thursday.
Christian Porter, Australian Minister for Social Services, tabled legislation in parliament on Thursday that would establish the Commonwealth Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.
If the legislation is passed it would provide eligible survivors with a redress payment of up to 115,552 U.S. dollars as well psychological counselling and a personal direct response from the responsible institution.
However, victims who have gone on to commit sex offences of their own or have been sentenced to serve more than five years in prison for other offences would not be covered by the scheme.
"The scheme... makes (institutions) accountable for the terrible wrongs done to some of the most vulnerable people in our community -- young people in their care," Porter told parliament on Thursday.
"The Royal Commission estimated that 60,000 children were sexually abused in Australia's institutions.
"It was a grave betrayal of trust and no child should ever experience what they did."
The legislation was informed by a panel of 15 survivors and their supporters who were appointed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison made 25.7 million U.S. dollars available for the scheme in the 2017-18 Federal Budget with more funding to come when it launches in July 2018.
Even if the legislation is passed through parliament, the onus will be on Australia's six states to opt-in and participate.
Porter said the cap on the maximum redress compensation was included so as to maximize the number of bodies participating in the scheme.
Victims will only be able to access compensation if the institution responsible for their abuse has opted into the scheme on an entity-pays basis.
"If you're an institution and you're responsible for the terrible things that occurred, then you become responsible, of course, for paying the redress," Porter said.