National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2018
Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
Authorised Version
i
National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child
Sexual Abuse (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2018
No. 21 of 2018
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary 1
1 Name and purpose of Act 1
2 Commencement 2
3 Definitions 3
Part 2—Reference of matters to Commonwealth Parliament 5
4 Reference of matters 5
5 State redress mechanisms 6
6 Requirements for agreement of the State 7
7 Termination of references 8
8 Effect of termination of amendment reference before text
reference 8
Part 3—Miscellaneous 10
9 How agreement of the State is given, withdrawn and evidenced 10
10 Information sharing 10
11 Payments to and from the Consolidated Fund 11
12 Regulations 12
Schedule 1—Scheduled text of the proposed Bill for a
Commonwealth Act 13
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Endnotes 191
1 General information 191
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Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
Authorised Version
1
National Redress Scheme for
Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
(Commonwealth Powers) Act 2018 †
No. 21 of 2018
[Assented to 13 June 2018]
The Parliament of Victoria enacts:
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Name and purpose of Act
(1) This Act is the National Redress Scheme
for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
(Commonwealth Powers) Act 2018.
Victoria
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(2) The main purpose of this Act is to refer certain
matters relating to the National Redress Scheme
for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse to the
Parliament of the Commonwealth for the purposes
of section 51 (xxxvii) of the Constitution of the
Commonwealth.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on the day on which this Act
receives the Royal Assent.
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3 Definitions
In this Act, unless the contrary intention
appears—
amendment reference means the reference under
section 4(2);
express amendment of the National Redress Act
means the direct amendment of the text of
that Act (whether by the insertion, omission,
repeal, substitution or relocation of words or
matter) by another Commonwealth Act or by
an instrument under a Commonwealth Act,
but does not include the enactment by a
Commonwealth Act of a provision that has
or will have substantive effect otherwise than
as part of the text of the National Redress
Act;
initial referred provisions means the scheduled
text, to the extent to which that text deals
with matters that are included in the
legislative powers of the Parliament of the
State;
National Redress Act means a Commonwealth
Act enacted in the terms, or substantially in
the terms, of the scheduled text and as in
force from time to time;
National Redress Scheme means the National
Redress Scheme for Institutional Child
Sexual Abuse as established by the National
Redress Act and as in force from time to
time;
participating State institution means a
participating State institution within the
meaning of the National Redress Act;
scheduled text means the text of the proposed Bill
for a Commonwealth Act, as set out in
Schedule 1 to this Act;
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State institution means a State institution within
the meaning of the National Redress Act;
text reference means the reference under
section 4(1).
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Part 2—Reference of matters to
Commonwealth Parliament
4 Reference of matters
(1) Text reference—Matters to which the initial
referred provisions relate are referred to the
Parliament of the Commonwealth, but only to the
extent of making laws with respect to those
matters by including the initial referred provisions
in a Commonwealth Act enacted in the terms, or
substantially in the terms, set out in the scheduled
text.
(2) Amendment reference—Matters relating to a
redress scheme for institutional child sexual abuse
are, except as provided by sections 5 and 6,
referred to the Parliament of the Commonwealth,
but only to the extent of making laws with respect
to those matters by making express amendments
of the National Redress Act.
(3) The operation of each of subsections (1) and (2) is
not affected by the other subsection.
(4) The reference of a matter under subsection (1) or
(2) has effect only—
(a) if and to the extent that the matter is not
included in the legislative powers of the
Parliament of the Commonwealth (otherwise
than by a reference for the purposes of
section 51 (xxxvii) of the Constitution of the
Commonwealth); and
(b) if and to the extent that the matter is included
in the legislative powers of the Parliament of
the State.
(5) To avoid doubt, it is the intention of the
Parliament of the State that the National Redress
Act may be expressly amended, or have its
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operation otherwise affected, at any time after the
commencement of subsection (1)—
(a) by provisions of Commonwealth Acts the
operation of which is based on legislative
powers that the Parliament of the
Commonwealth has apart from under the
references under subsections (1) and (2); and
(b) by provisions of instruments made or issued
under the National Redress Act or under
provisions referred to in paragraph (a).
(6) Despite any other provision of this Act, other
than section 8(2), a reference under subsection (1)
or (2) has effect for a period—
(a) beginning when the subsection under which
the reference is made comes into operation;
and
(b) ending at the beginning of the day fixed
under this Part as the day on which the
reference is to terminate—
but no longer.
5 State redress mechanisms
(1) A State redress mechanism is—
(a) a scheme, program or arrangement
(temporary or otherwise) established (before
or after the commencement of this Act) by—
(i) the Parliament or government of the
State; or
(ii) an institution (whether governmental or
non-governmental) or other entity—
for or in respect of persons who have
suffered institutional child sexual abuse in
the State (whether applying only to any such
persons or applying to any class of victims of
crime) and any associated matters; or
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(b) the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal to grant
compensation or support for or in respect of
victims of crime (including crime relating to
institutional child sexual abuse) and any
associated matters.
(2) A matter referred by section 4(2) does not include
the matter of making a law to the extent that that
law would operate to prevent or limit the power to
establish, or to prevent or limit the operation of,
any State redress mechanism, whether or not the
mechanism deals with the same or similar subject-
matters as those dealt with in any aspect of the
National Redress Scheme.
(3) Subsection (2) does not cover any of the following
matters (if they would otherwise be covered by
section 4(2))—
(a) any matter to which the initial referred
provisions relate;
(b) the matter of the release or discharge, in
connection with the operation of the National
Redress Scheme, of relevant civil liability of
institutions or officials;
(c) the matter of the disclosure or use of
evidence or other information provided or
obtained in connection with the operation of
the National Redress Scheme;
(d) the matter of the making, enforcement or
protection (for example, protection against
the operation of orders in the nature of
garnishee orders) of payments in connection
with the operation of the National Redress
Scheme.
6 Requirements for agreement of the State
A matter referred by section 4(2) does not include
the matter of making a law to the extent that that
law would substantively remove or override a
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provision of the National Redress Act that
requires the agreement of the State.
7 Termination of references
(1) The Governor in Council may, at any time, by
proclamation published in the Government
Gazette, fix a day as the day on which—
(a) the text reference is to terminate; or
(b) the amendment reference is to terminate—
or both.
(2) The Governor in Council may, by proclamation
published in the Government Gazette, revoke a
proclamation published under subsection (1), in
which case the revoked proclamation is taken (for
the purposes of section 4) never to have been
published.
(3) A revoking proclamation has effect only if
published before the day fixed under subsection
(1).
(4) The revocation of a proclamation published under
subsection (1) does not prevent publication of a
further proclamation under that subsection.
8 Effect of termination of amendment reference
before text reference
(1) If the amendment reference terminates before the
text reference, the termination of the amendment
reference does not affect—
(a) laws that were made under that reference
before that termination (whether or not they
have come into operation before that
termination); or
(b) the continued operation in the State of the
National Redress Act as in operation
immediately before that termination or as
subsequently amended or affected by—
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(i) laws referred to in paragraph (a) that
come into operation after that
termination; or
(ii) provisions referred to in section 4(5).
(2) Accordingly, the amendment reference continues
to have effect for the purposes of subsection (1)
unless the text reference is terminated.
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Part 3—Miscellaneous
9 How agreement of the State is given, withdrawn and
evidenced
(1) The regulations may make provision for or with
respect to, or (subject to any relevant provisions of
the regulations) the Minister may give directions
as to, how the agreement of the State is to be
given or withdrawn, and may be evidenced for the
purposes of, and consistently with, this Act and
the National Redress Scheme.
(2) Without limitation—
(a) the regulations or directions may authorise a
person to give agreement on behalf of the
State; and
(b) the agreement of the State to State
institutions participating in the National
Redress Scheme may be given in respect
of—
(i) one or more particular State
institutions; or
(ii) a class of State institutions, however
described.
10 Information sharing
(1) In this section—
Operator means the Operator within the meaning
of the National Redress Act;
State agency means the whole or part of a body
(whether or not incorporated) established for
a public purpose by or under a law of the
State, whether or not it is a State institution
or participating State institution, and
includes the whole or part of a body or class
of bodies prescribed by the regulations as
being within this definition, but does not
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include the whole or part of a body or class
of bodies prescribed by the regulations as not
being within this definition.
(2) A participating State institution may give
information to the Operator for the purpose of
complying with a request made by the Operator to
the participating State institution under the
National Redress Act to give information in
relation to an application under the National
Redress Scheme.
(3) A State agency may give information to another
State agency for the purpose of assisting any
participating State institution to comply with a
request made by the Operator to the participating
State institution under the National Redress Act to
give information as referred to in subsection (2).
(4) Nothing in a law of the State prevents—
(a) a participating State institution from giving
information to the Operator as referred to in
subsection (2); or
(b) a State agency from giving information to
another State agency as referred to in
subsection (3)—
unless that law is prescribed by the regulations
under this Act.
(5) A reference in this section to a participating State
institution is a reference to a participating State
institution that is, is part of or is connected with
the State.
11 Payments to and from the Consolidated Fund
The following amounts are payable out of the
Consolidated Fund, which is appropriated to the
necessary extent—
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(a) payments to the Commonwealth for the
funding contribution that the State is liable to
pay under section 149 of the National
Redress Act including, but not limited to—
(i) the redress element within the meaning
of section 151 of that Act; and
(ii) the scheme administration element
within the meaning of section 152 of
that Act; and
(iii) late payment penalty within the
meaning of section 154 of that Act;
(b) expenditure approved for the purposes of this
Act by the Treasurer for support services,
including the provision of counselling and
psychological services within the meaning of
section 52(1)(b) of the National Redress Act;
(c) expenditure approved by the Treasurer for
the costs of administering the State's
participation in the National Redress
Scheme.
12 Regulations
The Governor in Council may make regulations,
not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect
to any matter that by this Act is required or
permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or
convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or
giving effect to this Act.
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Schedule 1—Scheduled text of the proposed Bill for a Commonwealth Act
National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
(Commonwealth Powers) Act 2018
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Schedule 1—Scheduled text of the proposed
Bill for a Commonwealth Act
2016-2017-2018
The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Presented and read a first time
National Redress Scheme for
Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
Bill 2018
No. , 2018
(Social Services)
A Bill for an Act to establish the National
Redress Scheme for Institutional Child
Sexual Abuse, and for related purposes
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Schedule 1—Scheduled text of the proposed Bill for a Commonwealth Act
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Contents
Chapter 1—Introduction 25
Part 1-1—Introduction 25
Division 1—Preliminary 25
1 Short title 25
2 Commencement 25
Division 2—Objects of this Act 26
3 Objects of this Act 26
Division 3—Simplified outline of this Act 27
4 Simplified outline of this Act 27
Part 1-2—Definitions 30
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 30
5 Simplified outline of this Part 30
Division 2—The Dictionary 31
6 The Dictionary 31
Chapter 2—The National Redress Scheme for
Institutional Child Sexual Abuse 38
Part 2-1—Establishment of the scheme 38
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 38
7 Simplified outline of this Part 38
Division 2—Establishment of the scheme 39
8 Establishment of the scheme 39
9 The National Redress Scheme Operator 39
10 General principles guiding actions of officers under the scheme 39
Part 2-2—Entitlement to redress under the scheme 41
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 41
11 Simplified outline of this Part 41
Division 2—Entitlement to redress under the scheme 43
12 When is a person entitled to be provided with redress? 43
13 When is a person eligible for redress? 43
14 When is abuse within the scope of the scheme? 44
15 When is an institution responsible for abuse? 45
16 What redress is provided to a person? 46
17 What is redress for? 47
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Part 2-3—How to obtain redress under the scheme 48
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 48
18 Simplified outline of this Part 48
Division 2—Application for redress under the scheme 50
19 Application for redress 50
20 When an application cannot be made 50
21 Special process for child applicants 51
22 Withdrawal of an application 51
23 Notice of a withdrawal to participating institutions 51
Division 3—Obtaining information for the purposes of
determining the application 52
24 Power to request information from the applicant 52
25 Power to request information from participating institutions 53
26 Failure of the applicant or institutions to comply with a request 54
27 State or Territory laws do not prevent complying with request 55
28 False or misleading information, documents or statements 55
Division 4—The Operator must determine whether to
approve the application 56
29 The Operator must make a determination on the application 56
30 Working out the amount of redress payment and sharing of costs 59
31 Working out the amount of the counselling and psychological
component and sharing of costs 61
32 The assessment framework 61
33 The assessment framework policy guidelines 62
Division 5—Notice of determination to applicant and
participating institutions 63
34 Notice of determination to applicant 63
35 Notice of determination to participating institutions 63
Division 6—Effect of determination and admissibility of
evidence in civil proceedings 65
36 Effect of determination 65
37 Admissibility of documents in evidence in civil proceedings 65
Part 2-4—Offers and acceptance of redress 67
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 67
38 Simplified outline of this Part 67
Division 2—Offers of redress 68
39 Offer of redress 68
40 Acceptance period for offers of redress 70
41 Notice of offer to participating institutions 70
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Division 3—Accepting or declining offers of redress 72
42 Accepting the offer of redress 72
43 Effect of acceptance on civil liability 73
44 Notice to participating institutions that the offer is accepted 74
45 Declining the offer of redress 74
46 Notice to participating institutions that the offer is declined 75
Part 2-5—Provision of redress under the scheme 76
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 76
47 Simplified outline of this Part 76
Division 2—The redress payment 77
48 The Operator must pay the redress payment 77
49 Protection of the redress payment—general 77
50 Additional protection of the redress payment—garnishee orders 78
Division 3—Counselling and psychological component of
redress 79
51 The Operator must enable access to the counselling and
psychological component of redress 79
52 Protection of the counselling and psychological services
payment—general 79
53 Additional protection of the counselling and psychological
services payment—garnishee orders 80
Division 4—Direct personal responses 82
54 Direct personal response from responsible institutions 82
55 The direct personal response framework 82
56 General principles guiding provision of direct personal responses 83
Chapter 3—Special rules to deal with
exceptional cases 84
Part 3-1—Special rules allowing entitlement to redress 84
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 84
57 Simplified outline of this Part 84
Division 2—Death of person before acceptance of redress
offer 85
58 Person dies before determination is made on application for
redress 85
59 Person dies before offer of redress is accepted, declined or
withdrawn 86
60 Entitlement to redress payment 87
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Division 3—Abuse for which a Commonwealth institution
or participating Territory institution is
responsible 88
61 Abuse occurring inside a non-participating State 88
Part 3-2—Special rules excluding entitlement to
redress 89
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 89
62 Simplified outline of this Part 89
Division 2—Special assessment of applicants with serious
criminal convictions 90
63 Special assessment of applicants with serious criminal convictions 90
Division 3—Security notices 93
Subdivision A—No entitlement to redress while security notice in
force 93
64 Person not entitled to redress while security notice in force 93
Subdivision B—Security notice 93
65 Security notice from the Home Affairs Minister 93
66 Notice from the Foreign Affairs Minister 94
67 Copy of a security notice to be given to the Operator and the
Human Services Secretary 94
68 Period a security notice is in force 95
69 Annual review of a security notice 95
70 Revoking a security notice 95
Subdivision C—Other matters affected by a security notice 95
71 Other matters affected by a security notice 95
Chapter 4—Administrative matters 97
Part 4-1—Review of determinations 97
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 97
72 Simplified outline of this Part 97
Division 2—Review of determinations 98
73 Application for review of determination 98
74 Withdrawal of application for review 98
75 The review 98
76 Date of effect of review determination 99
77 Notice of review determination to applicant 99
78 Interaction between review and offer of redress 99
79 Notices to participating institutions about review 100
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Part 4-2—Nominees 101
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 101
80 Simplified outline of this Part 101
Division 2—Appointment of nominees 102
81 Appointment of nominees 102
82 Suspension and revocation of nominee appointments 102
Division 3—Duties, functions and responsibilities of
nominees 105
83 Duty of nominee 105
84 Actions of assistance nominee 105
85 Actions of legal nominee 106
86 Giving notices to assistance nominee or legal nominee 106
87 Nominee to inform the Operator of matters affecting ability to act
as nominee 107
Division 4—Other matters relating to nominees 108
88 Protection of person against liability for actions of nominee 108
89 Protection of nominee against criminal liability 108
90 Informing nominee if notice given to person 108
Part 4-3—Protecting information under the scheme 109
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 109
91 Simplified outline of this Part 109
Division 2—Use and disclosure of protected information 110
92 Protected information 110
93 Main authorisation—obtaining, recording, disclosing or using
protected information 110
94 Additional authorisation—Operator disclosing to nominee 111
95 Additional authorisation—Operator disclosing in public interest or
for another specified purpose 111
96 Additional authorisation—Operator disclosing for law
enforcement or child safety or wellbeing 112
97 Additional authorisation—disclosing etc. for a permitted purpose 113
98 Additional authorisation—person engaged by participating
institution disclosing etc. for a specified purpose 115
99 Offence—unauthorised access, recording, disclosure or use of
protected information 115
100 Offence—soliciting disclosure of protected information 116
101 Offence—offering to disclose protected information 116
Division 3—Use and disclosure of the assessment
framework policy guidelines 118
102 Main authorisation for obtaining, recording, disclosing or using
the assessment framework policy guidelines 118
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103 Additional authorisation—disclosure and use in accordance with
the National Redress Scheme Agreement 118
104 Offence—unauthorised recording, disclosure or use of assessment
framework policy guidelines 118
Division 4—Other matters 120
105 Disclosures to a court or tribunal 120
106 Disclosing information in good faith 120
Chapter 5—Participating institutions,
participating groups and
participating jurisdictions 122
Part 5-1—Participating institutions 122
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 122
107 Simplified outline of this Part 122
Division 2—Institutions participating in the scheme 124
Subdivision A—Participating institutions 124
108 What is a participating institution? 124
Subdivision B—Commonwealth institutions 124
109 What is a Commonwealth institution? 124
Subdivision C—Participating State institutions 125
110 What is a participating State institution? 125
111 What is a State institution? 125
Subdivision D—Participating Territory institutions 125
112 What is a participating Territory institution? 125
113 What is a Territory institution? 126
Subdivision E—Participating non-government institutions 126
114 What is a participating non-government institution? 126
Division 3—Ministerial declarations about participating
institutions 128
115 Institutions becoming participating institutions 128
116 Institutions ceasing to be participating institutions 129
Division 4—Participating defunct institutions 132
Subdivision A—Participating defunct institutions 132
117 What is a participating defunct institution? 132
Subdivision B—Representatives for participating defunct
institutions 132
118 Representatives for participating defunct institutions 132
119 Becoming the representative for a defunct non-government
institution 133
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120 Ceasing to be the representative for a defunct non-government
institution 133
121 Actions of the representative for a defunct institution 134
122 Giving notices to the representative for a defunct institution 134
123 Obligations and liabilities of the representative for a defunct
institution 134
Division 5—Participating lone institutions 136
Subdivision A—Participating lone institutions 136
124 What is a participating lone institution? 136
Subdivision B—Representatives for participating lone institutions 136
125 Representatives for participating lone institutions 136
126 Becoming the representative for an unincorporated lone institution 137
127 Becoming the representative for an incorporated lone institution 137
128 Ceasing to be the representative for a lone institution 138
129 Actions of the representative for a lone institution 139
130 Giving notices to the representative for a lone institution 139
131 Joint and several liability of the representative for an
unincorporated lone institution for funding contribution 139
Part 5-2—Groups of institutions participating in the
scheme 140
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 140
132 Simplified outline of this Part 140
Division 2—Participating groups 141
133 Participating groups 141
134 Institutions becoming members of a participating group 141
135 Institutions ceasing to be members of a participating group 142
Division 3—Representatives for participating groups 144
136 Representatives for participating groups 144
137 Becoming the representative for a participating group of
non-government institutions 144
138 Ceasing to be the representative for a participating group of
non-government institutions 145
139 Actions of the representative for a participating group 146
140 Giving notices to the representative for a participating group 146
141 Joint and several liability of the representative for funding
contribution 146
Part 5-3—Jurisdictions participating in the scheme 147
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 147
142 Simplified outline of this Part 147
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Division 2—Participating jurisdictions 148
143 What is a participating jurisdiction? 148
144 What is a participating State? 148
145 The referred national redress scheme matters 151
Division 3—Participating jurisdictions providing
counselling and psychological services under
the scheme 153
146 Participating jurisdictions that are declared providers 153
147 Ministerial declarations about declared providers 153
Chapter 6—Financial matters 154
Part 6-1—Liability for funding 154
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 154
148 Simplified outline of this Part 154
Division 2—Liability of participating institutions for
funding contribution 156
149 Liability for funding contribution 156
150 Funding contribution 156
151 Redress element 157
152 Scheme administration element 157
153 When funding contribution is due for payment 157
154 Late payment penalty 158
155 Payment of funding contribution and late payment penalty 158
156 Waiver of funding contribution and late payment penalty 158
157 Review of decision about waiving funding contribution or penalty 159
158 Liability of corporate State or Territory institutions for funding
contribution 160
Division 3—Liability of the Commonwealth for counselling
and psychological services contribution 161
159 Liability for counselling and psychological services contribution 161
160 Counselling and psychological services contribution 161
Division 4—Appropriation 162
161 Appropriation 162
Part 6-2—Funders of last resort 163
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 163
162 Simplified outline of this Part 163
Division 2—Funders of last resort 164
163 Funders of last resort 164
164 Listing defunct institutions 164
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Division 3—Special rules for funder of last resort cases 166
165 Special rules for funder of last resort cases 166
Part 6-3—Debt recovery 168
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 168
166 Simplified outline of this Part 168
Division 2—Debt recovery 169
167 Recovery of amounts (other than funding contribution and late
payment penalty) 169
168 Recovery of funding contribution and late payment penalty 170
169 Legal proceedings to recover debt 170
170 Arrangement for payment of debt 170
171 Recovery of amounts from financial institutions 171
172 Repayment of recovered amount to participating institutions 172
Chapter 7—Other matters 173
Part 7-1—Application of this Act 173
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 173
173 Simplified outline of this Part 173
Division 2—Application of this Act 174
174 Constitutional basis for this Act 174
175 Concurrent operation with State and Territory laws 175
176 Extraterritorial application and extension to external Territories 175
177 Crown to be bound 176
Part 7-2—The National Redress Scheme Rules 177
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 177
178 Simplified outline of this Part 177
Division 2—The National Redress Scheme Rules 178
179 The National Redress Scheme Rules 178
Part 7-3—Other matters 180
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 180
180 Simplified outline of this Part 180
Division 2—Giving notices for the purposes of the scheme 182
181 Persons or institutions giving notices to the Operator 182
182 Operator giving notices to persons or institutions 182
Division 3—Delegation 183
183 Delegation by the Minister 183
184 Delegation by the Operator 183
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Division 4—Independent decision-makers 184
185 Engaging persons to be independent decision-makers 184
Division 5—Miscellaneous 185
186 Giving agreement 185
187 Annual report on operation of the scheme 185
188 Approved forms 185
189 Determinations of the Operator to be in writing 185
190 Civil penalty provisions 186
191 Compensation for acquisition of property 187
192 Review of the scheme 187
193 Sunset of the scheme 189
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A Bill for an Act to establish the National
Redress Scheme for Institutional Child
Sexual Abuse, and for related purposes
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
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Chapter 1—Introduction
Part 1-1—Introduction
Division 1—Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act is the National Redress Scheme for Institutional
Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018.
2 Commencement
(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the
table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in
accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other
statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Provisions Commencement Date/Details
1. The whole of
this Act
As follows:
(a) if this Act receives the Royal Assent
before 1 July 2018—1 July 2018;
(b) if this Act receives the Royal Assent on
or after 1 July 2018—a single day to be
fixed by Proclamation.
However, if the provisions do not
commence within the period of 6 months
beginning on the day this Act receives the
Royal Assent, they commence on the day
after the end of that period.
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as
originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any
later amendments of this Act.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of
this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or
information in it may be edited, in any published version
of this Act.
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Division 2—Objects of this Act
3 Objects of this Act
(1) The main objects of this Act are:
(a) to recognise and alleviate the impact of past
institutional child sexual abuse and related abuse;
and
(b) to provide justice for the survivors of that abuse.
(2) For the purposes of achieving those objects, the objects
of this Act are also:
(a) to establish the National Redress Scheme for
Institutional Child Sexual Abuse; and
(b) to provide redress under the scheme which consists
of:
(i) a monetary payment to survivors as a tangible
means of recognising the wrong survivors
have suffered; and
(ii) a counselling and psychological component
which, depending on where the survivor lives,
consists of access to counselling and
psychological services or a monetary payment;
and
(iii) a direct personal response to survivors from
the participating institutions responsible; and
(c) to enable institutions responsible for abuse of
survivors to participate in the scheme to provide
that redress to those survivors; and
(d) to implement the joint response of:
(i) the Commonwealth Government; and
(ii) the government of each participating State;
and
(iii) the government of each participating
Territory;
to the recommendations of the Royal Commission
into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
in relation to redress.
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Division 3—Simplified outline of this Act
4 Simplified outline of this Act
This Act establishes the National Redress Scheme for
Institutional Child Sexual Abuse to provide redress to
survivors of past institutional child sexual abuse.
Redress under the scheme is for abuse that is within the
scope of the scheme. Abuse of a person is within the
scope of the scheme if:
(a) it occurred when the person was a child; and
(b) it occurred before the scheme start day; and
(c) it occurred inside a participating State, inside a
Territory, or outside Australia (that is, it did
not occur inside a State that is not participating
in the scheme).
Redress consists of 3 components:
(a) a redress payment (of up to $150,000); and
(b) a counselling and psychological component
which, depending on where the person lives,
consists of access to counselling and
psychological services or a counselling and
psychological services payment (of up to
$5,000); and
(c) a direct personal response from each
participating institution responsible for the
abuse.
To be entitled to redress, a number of conditions need to
be met. First, the person must make an application for
redress. Then the person must meet the eligibility criteria.
These are that:
(a) the person was sexually abused; and
(b) the abuse is within the scope of the scheme;
and
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(c) the abuse is of a kind for which the maximum
amount of redress payment worked out under
the assessment framework would be more than
nil; and
(d) one or more participating institutions are
responsible for the abuse; and
(e) at the time of the application, the person is an
Australian citizen or a permanent resident.
A participating institution is responsible for abuse of a
person if the abuse occurred in circumstances where the
participating institution is primarily or equally
responsible for the abuser having contact with the person.
Various circumstances are relevant to determining that
question (e.g. whether the abuser was an official of the
institution).
The participating institutions are:
(a) all Commonwealth institutions; and
(b) any State institution that is declared to be a
participating institution; and
(c) any Territory institution that is declared to be a
participating institution; and
(d) any non-government institution that is declared
to be a participating institution.
If the Operator considers that there is a reasonable
likelihood that the person is eligible for redress, the
Operator must approve the application and make an offer
of redress to the person. The person may accept or
decline the offer.
If the person accepts the offer, then the person becomes
entitled to redress under the scheme. The person is
required to release particular institutions and officials
from all civil liability for the abuse. Those institutions
and officials are the participating institutions determined
by the Operator to be responsible for the abuse, their
officials, their associates and the officials of their
associates. The abuser is not released from liability.
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Once entitled, the person will be provided with redress
under the scheme.
If the person declines the offer, then the person is not
entitled to redress under the scheme. The person is not
required to release any institution or official from liability
for the abuse.
The Operator is responsible for the administration of the
scheme. To ensure that the scheme is survivor-focussed,
the Operator (and other officers of the scheme) must take
into account general guiding principles when taking
action under the scheme. For example, one of the
principles is that redress must be assessed and provided
so as to avoid further harming or traumatising the person.
Participating institutions that are determined by the
Operator to be responsible for the abuse of a person are
liable for the costs of providing redress to the person.
Those institutions are also liable for contributing to the
costs of the administration of the scheme. The Operator is
responsible for recovering those costs from those
institutions through funding contributions, which those
institutions are required to pay on a quarterly basis.
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Part 1-2—Definitions
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
5 Simplified outline of this Part
Many terms used in this Act are defined to have a
particular meaning for this Act. For this reason, this Act
has a Dictionary (in section 6).
The Dictionary is a list of every term that is defined in
this Act. A term will either be defined in the Dictionary
itself, or in another provision of this Act. If another
provision defines the term, the Dictionary will have a
signpost to the provision that has that definition.
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Division 2—The Dictionary
6 The Dictionary
In this Act:
abuse means sexual abuse or non-sexual abuse.
abuser: a person is the abuser of another person if the
person has abused the other person.
acceptance document: see subsection 42(2).
acceptance period: see section 40.
adoption Act: see subsection 144(9).
amendment reference: see subsection 144(3).
approved form means a form approved under
section 188.
assessment framework: see subsection 32(2).
assessment framework policy guidelines: see
subsection 33(3).
assistance nominee means a person who is appointed as
an assistance nominee under paragraph 81(1)(a).
associate: for when a participating institution is an
associate of another participating institution, see
subsection 133(3) and 135(5).
child means a person under the age of 18.
civil penalty provision has the same meaning as in the
Regulatory Powers Act.
Commonwealth institution: see section 109.
component of redress means any of the 3 components of
redress referred to in subsection 16(1).
counselling and psychological component of redress
means:
(a) the counselling and psychological services
payment; or
(b) access to counselling and psychological services
under the scheme.
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counselling and psychological services contribution: see
section 160.
counselling and psychological services payment means a
payment payable under subsection 51(3).
declared provider: see subsection 146(2).
defunct: an institution is defunct if it is no longer in
existence.
direct personal response: see subsection 54(2).
direct personal response framework: see
subsection 55(2).
eligible: see section 13.
entitled: see subsections 12(2), (3) and (4).
equally responsible: for when a participating institution
is equally responsible for abuse of a person, see
subsections 15(3), (5) and (6).
express amendment: see subsection 144(9).
financial institution means a body corporate that is an
authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of
the Banking Act 1959.
Foreign Affairs Minister means the Minister
administering the Australian Passports Act 2005.
funder of last resort: for when a participating
government institution is the funder of last resort for a
defunct institution, see section 163.
funding contribution: see section 150.
government institution means a Commonwealth
institution, State institution or Territory institution.
Home Affairs Minister means the Minister administering
the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act
1979.
Human Services Department means the Department
administered by the Minister administering the Human
Services (Centrelink) Act 1997.
incorporated lone institution: see paragraph 124(3)(b).
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independent decision-maker: see subsection 185(3).
initial referred provisions: see subsection 144(9).
institution means any body, entity, group of persons or
organisation (whether or not incorporated), but does not
include a family or an individual.
legal nominee means a person who is appointed as a
legal nominee under paragraph 81(1)(b).
listed: for when a defunct institution is listed for a
participating jurisdiction, see subsection 164(1).
lone institution: see subsection 124(2).
maximum amount: see step 1 of the method statement in
subsection 30(2).
National Redress Scheme Agreement means the
Intergovernmental Agreement on the National Redress
Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, as in force
from time to time.
National Redress Scheme Operator: see the definition of
Operator.
National Service Standards means the National Service
Standards set out in the National Redress Scheme
Agreement.
nominee means an assistance nominee or a legal
nominee.
non-government institution: see subsections 114(2) and
(3).
non-participating State means a State that is not a
participating State.
non-sexual abuse includes physical abuse, psychological
abuse and neglect.
officer of the scheme means:
(a) a person in the Department or the Human Services
Department performing duties, or exercising
powers or functions, under or in relation to this Act
(including the Operator); or
(b) an independent decision-maker; or
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(c) a person prescribed by the rules.
official of an institution means a person who is or has
been an officer, employee, volunteer or agent of the
institution.
Operator (short for National Redress Scheme Operator)
means the person who is the Secretary of the Department,
in the person’s capacity as Operator of the scheme (as
referred to in section 9).
original determination: see paragraph 73(1)(b).
original version of this Act: see subsection 144(9).
participating defunct institution: see section 117.
participating government institution means:
(a) a Commonwealth institution; or
(b) a participating State institution; or
(c) a participating Territory institution.
participating group: see subsection 133(2).
participating incorporated lone institution: see
subsection 124(5).
participating institution: see subsections 108(2) and
116(7).
participating jurisdiction: see section 143.
participating lone institution: see subsection 124(1).
participating non-government institution: see
subsection 114(1).
participating State: see section 144.
participating State institution: see section 110.
participating Territory means the Australian Capital
Territory or the Northern Territory.
participating Territory institution: see section 112.
participating unincorporated lone institution: see
subsection 124(4).
permitted purpose: see paragraph 97(1)(e).
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primarily responsible: for when a participating institution
is primarily responsible for abuse of a person, see
subsections 15(2), (5) and (6).
production period: see paragraphs 24(3)(c) and 25(4)(c).
protected information: see subsection 92(2).
quarter: see subsection 149(2).
reasonable likelihood, in relation to a person being
eligible for redress, means the chance of the person being
eligible is real, is not fanciful or remote and is more than
merely plausible.
redress: see subsection 16(1).
redress element: see section 151.
redress payment means a payment payable under
section 48 or 60.
referral Act: see subsection 144(9).
referred national redress scheme matters: see
subsections 145(1) and (2).
Regulatory Powers Act means the Regulatory Powers
(Standard Provisions) Act 2014.
related: non-sexual abuse of a person is related to sexual
abuse of the person if a participating institution is
responsible for both the sexual abuse and the non-sexual
abuse of the person.
released institution or official: see paragraph 42(2)(c).
relevant prior payment: see step 3 of the method
statement in subsection 30(2).
relevant version of this Act: see subsection 144(9).
representative:
(a) for a participating defunct institution: see
subsections 118(2), (3), (4) and (5) and 120(4); or
(b) for a participating lone institution: see
subsections 125(2) and (3) and 128(4); or
(c) for a participating group: see subsections 136(2),
(3), (4) and (5) and 138(4).
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responsible: for when a participating institution is
responsible for abuse of a person, see subsections 15(1),
(5) and (6).
responsible institution: an institution is a responsible
institution in relation to abuse of a person if the Operator
has determined under paragraph 29(2)(b) that the
institution is responsible for that abuse.
review determination: see paragraph 75(2)(b).
rules means the rules made by the Minister under
section 179.
saved amount:
(a) for a redress payment: see subsection 50(2); or
(b) for a counselling and psychological services
payment: see subsection 53(2).
scheme means the National Redress Scheme for
Institutional Child Sexual Abuse established under
section 8.
scheme administration element: see subsection 152(1).
scheme start day means the day this Act commences.
scheme sunset day: see subsection 193(1).
security notice: see subsection 65(1).
sexual abuse of a person who is a child includes any act
which exposes the person to, or involves the person in,
sexual processes beyond the person’s understanding or
contrary to accepted community standards.
State institution: see section 111.
State redress mechanism: see subsection 145(4).
survivor means a person who has suffered sexual abuse
that is within the scope of the scheme.
Territory means a Territory referred to in section 122 of
the Constitution.
Note: A participating Territory is a type of Territory, but there
are other Territories that are covered by this definition
(e.g. the Jervis Bay Territory).
Territory institution: see section 113.
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text reference: see subsection 144(2).
this Act includes:
(a) the rules; and
(b) any other instrument made under this Act.
unincorporated lone institution: see
paragraph 124(3)(a).
wholly-owned Commonwealth company has the same
meaning as in the Public Governance, Performance and
Accountability Act 2013.
within the scope: for when abuse is within the scope of
the scheme, see section 14.
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Chapter 2—The National Redress
Scheme for Institutional Child
Sexual Abuse
Part 2-1—Establishment of the scheme
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
7 Simplified outline of this Part
This Part formally establishes the National Redress
Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. It provides
that the Operator is responsible for operating the scheme.
It also sets out general principles that the Operator and
other officers of the scheme must take into account, for
the benefit and protection of survivors, when taking
action under the scheme.
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Division 2—Establishment of the scheme
8 Establishment of the scheme
The National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child
Sexual Abuse is established by this Act.
9 The National Redress Scheme Operator
(1) The Secretary of the Department is the National Redress
Scheme Operator.
(2) The Operator is responsible for operating the scheme.
(3) The Operator may arrange for support and assistance
(including legal assistance) to be provided to a person
(including a person who is an applicant, or prospective
applicant, for redress) in relation to the doing of things
under, or for the purposes of, the scheme.
Note: For example, the Operator might arrange for support and
assistance to be provided to help prepare a person’s
application for redress.
(4) The Operator may, on behalf of the Commonwealth:
(a) enter into a contract, agreement, deed or
understanding relating to the provision of support
or assistance provided under the scheme; and
(b) vary and administer that contract, agreement, deed
or understanding.
10 General principles guiding actions of officers under the
scheme
(1) This section sets out the principles that must be taken into
account by the Operator and other officers of the scheme
when taking action under, or for the purposes of, the
scheme.
(2) Redress under the scheme should be survivor-focussed.
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(3) Redress should be assessed, offered and provided with
appropriate regard to:
(a) what is known about the nature and impact of child
sexual abuse, and institutional child sexual abuse in
particular; and
(b) the cultural needs of survivors; and
(c) the needs of particularly vulnerable survivors.
(4) Redress should be assessed, offered and provided so as to
avoid, as far as possible, further harming or traumatising
the survivor.
(5) Redress should be assessed, offered and provided in a
way that protects the integrity of the scheme.
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Part 2-2—Entitlement to redress under the
scheme
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
11 Simplified outline of this Part
For a person to be entitled to redress under the scheme, a
number of conditions need to be met.
First, the person must make an application for redress
under the scheme.
Then the person must meet the eligibility criteria for
redress. These are that the person was sexually abused,
the abuse is within the scope of the scheme, the abuse is
of a kind for which the amount of redress payment
worked out under the assessment framework would be
more than nil, one or more participating institutions are
responsible for the abuse, and, at the time of the
application, the person is an Australian citizen or a
permanent resident.
If the Operator considers that there is a reasonable
likelihood that the person is eligible for redress, the
Operator must approve the application and make an offer
of redress to the person. The person may accept or
decline the offer. (Offers and acceptance of redress are
dealt with in Part 2-4.)
If the person accepts the offer, then the person becomes
entitled to redress under the scheme. The person is
required to release particular institutions and officials
from all civil liability for the abuse. Those institutions are
the participating institutions determined by the Operator
to be responsible for the abuse, their officials, their
associates and the officials of their associates. The abuser
is not released from liability.
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Once entitled, the person will be provided with redress
under the scheme. (Provision of redress is dealt with in
Part 2-5.)
If the person declines the offer, then the person is not
entitled to redress under the scheme. The person is not
required to release any institution or official from civil
liability for the abuse.
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Division 2—Entitlement to redress under the
scheme
12 When is a person entitled to be provided with redress?
(1) A person can only be provided with redress under the
scheme if the person is entitled to it.
(2) A person is entitled to redress under the scheme if:
(a) the person applies for redress under section 19; and
(b) the Operator considers that there is a reasonable
likelihood that the person is eligible for redress
under the scheme (see section 13 for eligibility);
and
(c) the Operator approves the application under
section 29; and
(d) the Operator makes an offer of redress to the person
under section 39; and
(e) the person accepts the offer in accordance with
section 42.
(3) A person is also entitled to redress, or a component of
redress, under the scheme if this Act or the rules
prescribe that the person is entitled to it.
Note: For cases where this Act prescribes that a person is
entitled to redress, or a component of redress, under the
scheme, see Part 3-1.
(4) Despite subsections (2) and (3), a person is not entitled to
redress, or a component of redress, under the scheme if
this Act or the rules prescribe that the person is not
entitled to it.
Note: For cases where this Act prescribes that a person is not
entitled to redress, or a component of redress, under the
scheme, see Part 3-2.
13 When is a person eligible for redress?
(1) A person is eligible for redress under the scheme if:
(a) the person was sexually abused; and
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(b) the sexual abuse is within the scope of the scheme
(see section 14); and
(c) the sexual abuse is of a kind for which the
maximum amount of redress payment that could be
payable to the person (as worked out under the
assessment framework) would be more than nil;
and
(d) one or more participating institutions are
responsible for the abuse (see section 15); and
(e) the person is an Australian citizen or a permanent
resident (within the meaning of the Australian
Citizenship Act 2007) at the time the person applies
for redress.
Note 1: To be eligible for redress, a person must have been
sexually abused. However, redress is for the sexual abuse,
and related non-sexual abuse, of the person that is within
the scope of the scheme.
Note 2: For which institutions are participating institutions, see
subsection 108(2).
(2) A person is also eligible for redress under the scheme if
this Act or the rules prescribe that the person is eligible
for it.
(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), a person is not eligible
for redress under the scheme if this Act or the rules
prescribe that the person is not eligible for it.
14 When is abuse within the scope of the scheme?
(1) Abuse of a person is within the scope of the scheme if:
(a) it occurred when the person was a child; and
(b) it occurred:
(i) inside a participating State; or
(ii) inside a Territory; or
(iii) outside Australia; and
(c) it occurred before the scheme start day.
(2) Abuse of a person is within the scope of the scheme if
this Act or the rules prescribe that it is.
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(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), abuse of a person is not
within the scope of the scheme if this Act or the rules
prescribe that it is not.
15 When is an institution responsible for abuse?
When is an institution responsible for abuse?
(1) An institution (whether or not a participating institution)
is responsible for abuse of a person if the institution is
primarily responsible or equally responsible for the
abuse.
When an institution is primarily responsible for abuse
(2) An institution is primarily responsible for abuse of a
person if the institution is solely or primarily responsible
for the abuser having contact with the person.
When an institution is equally responsible for abuse
(3) An institution is equally responsible for abuse of a
person if:
(a) the institution and one or more other institutions are
approximately equally responsible for the abuser
having contact with the person; and
(b) no institution is primarily responsible for the abuse
of the person.
Relevant circumstances for determining responsibility
(4) Without limiting the circumstances that might be relevant
for determining under subsection (2) or (3) whether an
institution is primarily responsible or equally responsible
for the abuser having contact with the person, the
following circumstances are relevant:
(a) whether the institution was responsible for the
day-to-day care or custody of the person when the
abuse occurred;
(b) whether the institution was the legal guardian of the
person when the abuse occurred;
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(c) whether the institution was responsible for placing
the person into the institution in which the abuse
occurred;
(d) whether the abuser was an official of the institution
when the abuse occurred;
(e) whether the abuse occurred:
(i) on the premises of the institution; or
(ii) where activities of the institution took place;
or
(iii) in connection with the activities of the
institution;
(f) any other circumstances that are prescribed by the
rules.
Note: When determining the question whether an institution is
responsible for abuse of a person, the circumstances listed
in this subsection are relevant to that question, but none of
them on its own is determinative of that question.
(5) Despite subsections (1), (2) and (3), an institution is
responsible, primarily responsible or equally responsible
for abuse of a person in the circumstances (if any)
prescribed by the rules.
(6) Despite subsections (1), (2) and (3), an institution is not
responsible, primarily responsible or equally responsible
for abuse of a person in the circumstances (if any)
prescribed by the rules.
16 What redress is provided to a person?
(1) Redress for a person consists of 3 components:
(a) a redress payment (of up to $150,000); and
(b) a counselling and psychological component which,
depending on where the person lives (as stated in
the person’s application for redress), consists of:
(i) access to counselling and psychological
services provided under the scheme; or
(ii) a payment (of up to $5,000) to enable the
person to access counselling and
psychological services provided outside of the
scheme; and
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(c) a direct personal response from each of the
participating institutions that are determined by the
Operator under paragraph 29(2)(b) to be
responsible for the abuse of the person.
Note: For what a direct personal response consists of, see
subsection 54(2).
(2) A person who is entitled to redress under the scheme may
choose to accept 1, 2 or all 3 of those components of
redress.
(3) If 2 or more participating institutions are determined to
be responsible for the person’s abuse and the person
chooses to be given a direct personal response, then the
person may choose to be given a direct personal response
from each of those institutions, or from only some or one
of them.
17 What is redress for?
Redress for a person is for the sexual abuse, and related
non-sexual abuse, of the person that is within the scope of
the scheme.
Note: While redress is for both the sexual and related non-sexual
abuse of a person that is within the scope of the scheme, to
be eligible for redress in the first place, there must have
been sexual abuse within the scope of the scheme (see
paragraph 13(1)(b)).
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Part 2-3—How to obtain redress under the
scheme
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
18 Simplified outline of this Part
To be entitled to redress under the scheme, a person must
make an application for it. To be valid, the application
must comply with the requirements set out in section 19
(e.g. it must include any information required by the
Operator).
Once the application is made, the Operator can request
the person and participating institutions to provide further
information to the Operator for the purposes of
determining the application (see sections 24 and 25).
A person can make only one application for redress under
the scheme. Whether the application is successful or
unsuccessful, the person will not be able to make another
application for redress under the scheme (unless the
person withdraws the application before the Operator
makes a determination about whether or not to approve
it). There are certain circumstances where a person
cannot make an application for redress. These
circumstances are set out in section 20.
The Operator must make a determination to approve, or
not approve, the application as soon as practicable. If the
Operator considers there is a reasonable likelihood that
the person is eligible for redress, then the Operator must
approve the application and make a number of other
important determinations under subsection 29(2). For
example, the Operator must make a determination about
which participating institutions are responsible for the
abuse and therefore liable for providing redress to the
person. The Operator must also make a determination
about the amount of the redress payment that is payable
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to the person, as well as the amount of the counselling
and psychological component of redress for the person.
The Operator must give the person written notice of the
Operator’s determination on the application. The notice
must state whether or not the application has been
approved, the reasons for the determination and that the
person may apply for review of the determination. The
Operator must also give written notice of the
determination to the participating institutions that are
specified in the determination (such as the responsible
institutions).
If the Operator has approved the application, the Operator
must also give the person an offer of redress with the
notice. (Offers and acceptance of redress are dealt with in
Part 2-4.)
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Division 2—Application for redress under the
scheme
19 Application for redress
(1) To obtain redress under the scheme, a person must make
an application to the Operator.
(2) To be valid, the application must:
(a) be in the approved form; and
(b) specify where the person lives; and
(c) include any information, and be accompanied by
any documents, required by the Operator; and
(d) verify the information included in the application
by statutory declaration.
(3) The Operator is not required to make a determination on
an application that is not valid.
20 When an application cannot be made
(1) A person cannot make an application for redress under
the scheme if:
(a) the person has already made an application for
redress under the scheme; or
(b) a security notice is in force in relation to the person;
or
(c) the person is a child who will not turn 18 before the
scheme sunset day; or
(d) the person is in gaol (within the meaning of
subsection 23(5) of the Social Security Act 1991);
or
(e) the application is being made in the period of 12
months before the scheme sunset day.
(2) Paragraphs (1)(d) and (e) do not apply if the Operator
determines there are exceptional circumstances justifying
the application being made.
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(3) Before making a determination under subsection (2), the
Operator must comply with any requirements prescribed
by the rules.
21 Special process for child applicants
(1) If:
(a) a person makes an application for redress under the
scheme; and
(b) the person is a child who will turn 18 before the
scheme sunset day;
then the Operator must deal with the application in
accordance with any requirements prescribed by the
rules.
(2) Rules made for the purposes of subsection (1) apply
despite subsection 29(1) (which requires the Operator to
make a determination on the application as soon as
practicable).
22 Withdrawal of an application
(1) A person may withdraw an application for redress at any
time before the Operator makes a determination on the
application under section 29.
(2) If the person withdraws the application under
subsection (1), then for the purposes of this Act it is
treated as not having been made.
23 Notice of a withdrawal to participating institutions
(1) If:
(a) a person withdraws an application under
subsection 22(1); and
(b) before the withdrawal, the Operator had requested a
participating institution under section 25 to provide
information that may be relevant to the application;
then the Operator must give the institution written notice
that the person has withdrawn the application.
(2) The notice must also comply with any requirements
prescribed by the rules.
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Division 3—Obtaining information for the purposes
of determining the application
24 Power to request information from the applicant
(1) If the Operator has reasonable grounds to believe that a
person who has applied for redress has information that
may be relevant to determining the application, then the
Operator may request the person to give the information
to the Operator.
Note: The request for information may be accompanied by
information that has been disclosed by an institution in
relation to the application.
(2) The request must be made by written notice given to the
person.
(3) The notice must specify:
(a) the nature of the information that is requested to be
given; and
(b) how the person is to give the information to the
Operator; and
(c) the period (the production period) within which the
person is requested to give the information to the
Operator; and
(d) that the notice is given under this section.
(4) The production period must be at least:
(a) if the Operator considers the application is urgent—
4 weeks; and
(b) otherwise—8 weeks;
beginning on the date of the notice.
(5) The Operator may, by written notice to the person, extend
the production period if the Operator considers it
appropriate to do so.
(6) An extension under subsection (5) may be given:
(a) on the Operator’s own initiative; or
(b) on a request made by the person under
subsection (7).
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(7) The person may request the Operator to extend the
production period. The request must:
(a) be made before the end of the production period;
and
(b) comply with any requirements prescribed by the
rules.
25 Power to request information from participating
institutions
(1) If a person has applied for redress and either:
(a) the application identifies a particular participating
institution as being involved in the abuse of the
person; or
(b) the Operator has reasonable grounds to believe that
a participating institution may be responsible for
the abuse of the person;
then the Operator must request the institution to give any
information that may be relevant to the application to the
Operator.
Note: The request for information may be accompanied by
information that has been disclosed by the applicant or
another institution in relation to the application.
(2) If a person has applied for redress and the Operator has
reasonable grounds to believe that a participating
institution has information that may be relevant to
determining the application, then the Operator may
request the institution to give the information to the
Operator.
Note: The request for information may be accompanied by
information that has been disclosed by the applicant or
another institution in relation to the application.
(3) The request under subsection (1) or (2) must be made by
written notice given to the institution.
(4) The notice must specify:
(a) the nature of the information that is requested to be
given; and
(b) how the institution is to give the information to the
Operator; and
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(c) the period (the production period) within which the
institution is requested to give the information to
the Operator; and
(d) that the notice is given under this section.
(5) The production period must be at least:
(a) if the Operator considers the application is urgent—
4 weeks; and
(b) otherwise—8 weeks;
beginning on the date of the notice.
(6) The Operator may, by notice to the institution, extend the
production period if the Operator considers it appropriate
to do so.
(7) An extension under subsection (6) may be given:
(a) on the Operator’s own initiative; or
(b) on a request made by the institution under
subsection (8).
(8) The institution may request the Operator to extend the
production period. The request must:
(a) be made before the end of the production period;
and
(b) comply with any requirements prescribed by the
rules.
26 Failure of the applicant or institutions to comply with a
request
(1) If:
(a) under section 24, the Operator requests a person
who has made an application for redress to provide
further information; and
(b) the information requested is not provided in the
production period referred to in that section;
then the Operator is not required to make a determination
on the application until the information is provided.
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(2) If:
(a) under section 25, the Operator requests a
participating institution to provide information in
relation to an application for redress; and
(b) the information requested is not provided in the
production period referred to in that section;
then the Operator may progress the application and make
a determination on it on the basis of the information that
has been obtained by, or provided to, the Operator.
27 State or Territory laws do not prevent complying with
request
Nothing in a law of a State or a Territory prevents a
person from giving information that the person is
requested to give to the Operator for the purposes of the
scheme unless that law is prescribed by the rules.
28 False or misleading information, documents or
statements
A person must not give information, produce a document
or make a statement to an officer of the scheme if the
person knows, or is reckless as to whether, the
information, document or statement is false or misleading
in a material particular.
Note: This section is a civil penalty provision. Conduct
prohibited by this section may also be an offence against
the Criminal Code (see sections 136.1, 137.1 and 137.2 of
the Code).
Civil penalty: 60 penalty units.
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Division 4—The Operator must determine whether
to approve the application
29 The Operator must make a determination on the
application
Requirement for the Operator to make a determination
(1) If a person makes an application for redress, the Operator
must make a determination to approve, or not approve,
the application as soon as practicable.
Determination to approve application
(2) If the Operator considers that there is a reasonable
likelihood that the person is eligible for redress, then the
Operator must:
(a) approve the application; and
(b) determine each participating institution that is
responsible for the abuse (see section 15) and
therefore liable for providing redress to the person
under the scheme; and
(c) determine, in accordance with section 30:
(i) the amount of the redress payment for the
person; and
(ii) the amount of each responsible institution’s
share of the costs of the redress payment; and
(d) determine, in accordance with section 31:
(i) the amount of the counselling and
psychological component of redress for the
person; and
(ii) the amount of each responsible institution’s
share of the costs of that component; and
(e) determine whether the counselling and
psychological component of redress for the person
consists of:
(i) access to the counselling and psychological
services that are provided under the scheme;
or
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(ii) a counselling and psychological services
payment; and
(f) if the counselling and psychological component of
redress for the person consists of a counselling and
psychological services payment—determine that
the amount of the payment equals the amount of the
counselling and psychological component of
redress for the person; and
(g) for each responsible institution that is a member of
a participating group—determine each other
participating institution that is an associate of the
responsible institution at that time; and
(h) for a participating institution that was identified in
the application and is not covered by a
determination under paragraph (b)—determine that
the participating institution is not responsible for
the abuse and therefore not liable for providing
redress to the person under the scheme; and
(i) if:
(i) the Operator determines, in accordance with
section 15, that a participating government
institution is equally responsible with a
defunct institution for the abuse; and
(ii) the defunct institution is listed for the
participating jurisdiction that the participating
government institution belongs to;
determine that the participating government
institution is the funder of last resort for the defunct
institution in relation to the abuse.
Note 1: If the Operator determines that the participating
government institution is the funder of last resort for
the defunct institution, then the participating
government institution will be liable to pay the
defunct institution’s (hypothetical) share of the costs
of providing redress to the person (see section 165).
Those costs are in addition to the participating
government institution’s own share of the costs for
providing redress to the person. For the funder of last
resort provisions, see Part 6-2.
Note 2: Only defunct institutions that are both
non-government institutions and not participating
institutions can be listed for a jurisdiction (see
subsection 164(1)).
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Determination not to approve application
(3) Otherwise, the Operator must make a determination not
to approve the application.
Revoking a determination
(4) The rules may require or permit the Operator to revoke,
under this subsection, a determination made under
subsection (2) or (3).
(5) However, the Operator cannot revoke a determination
made under subsection (2) if:
(a) the person has been given an offer of redress; and
(b) the person has accepted the offer in accordance
with section 42.
(6) If the Operator revokes a determination made under
subsection (2) or (3), then:
(a) every determination made under subsection (2) or
(3) is taken never to have been made; and
(b) if the person has been given an offer of redress but
has not accepted or declined the offer—the offer is
taken to be withdrawn; and
(c) if the person has made an application for review of
the determination—the review application is taken
to be withdrawn; and
(d) the Operator may make further requests under
section 24 or 25 for information relating to the
person’s application.
(7) The Operator must give a written notice to:
(a) the person; and
(b) each participating institution that was notified
under section 35 of the determination;
notifying them of the following:
(c) that the determination has been revoked;
(d) that the determination is taken never to have been
made;
(e) if an offer of redress has been withdrawn under
paragraph (6)(b)—that fact;
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(f) if an application for review of the determination has
been withdrawn under paragraph (6)(c)—that fact;
(g) any other matter prescribed by the rules.
30 Working out the amount of redress payment and sharing
of costs
Working out amounts
(1) This section sets out how the Operator must make a
determination under paragraph 29(2)(c) about:
(a) the amount of the redress payment for a person; and
(b) the amount of each responsible institution’s share
of the costs of the redress payment.
Note: This section only applies if the Operator approves the
person’s application for redress.
Working out share of the costs of redress payment
(2) The Operator must first work out, for each responsible
institution, the amount that is the institution’s share of the
costs of the redress payment by using the following
method statement:
Method statement
Step 1. Apply the assessment framework to work out
the maximum amount of redress payment that
could be payable to the person. The maximum
amount must not be more than $150,000,
regardless of the number of responsible
institutions. The amount worked out is the
maximum amount of the redress payment that
could be payable to the person.
Step 2. Work out, in accordance with any requirements
prescribed by the rules, the amount that is the
responsible institution’s share of the maximum
amount. This amount is the gross liability
amount for the responsible institution.
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Step 3. Work out the amount of any payment (a
relevant prior payment) that was paid to the
person by, or on behalf of, the responsible
institution in relation to abuse for which the
institution is responsible (but do not include any
payment to the extent that it is prescribed by the
rules as not being a relevant prior payment).
This amount is the original amount of the
relevant prior payment.
Step 4. Multiply the original amount by the following:
( )n
1.019
where:
n is the number of whole years since the
relevant prior payment was paid to the person.
The resulting amount is the adjusted amount of
the relevant prior payment of the institution.
Note: The adjustment under this step is broadly to account for
inflation.
Step 5. Add together the adjusted amount of each
relevant prior payment of the institution. If the
resulting amount is not a whole number of
cents, round the amount up to the next whole
number of cents. This amount is the reduction
amount for the institution.
Step 6. The amount of the institution’s share of the
costs of the redress payment is the gross
liability amount for the institution (in step 2)
less the reduction amount for the institution (in
step 5). The amount may be nil but not less than
nil.
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Working out amount of redress payment
(3) The Operator must then work out the amount of redress
payment for the person by adding together the amounts of
each responsible institution’s share of the costs of the
redress payment. The amount may be nil, but it must not
exceed the maximum amount of the redress payment.
Note 1: The amount may be nil because the total amount of
relevant prior payments that were paid to the person by the
responsible institutions exceeds the maximum amount of
the redress payment that could be payable to the person.
However, even though the person may not be paid any
redress payment in that case, the person will still be
entitled to the other components of redress under the
scheme (i.e. the counselling and psychological component
and a direct personal response).
Note 2: For funder of last resort cases, subsection 165(2) affects
how the amount of the redress payment and the share of
the costs of the payment are worked out.
31 Working out the amount of the counselling and
psychological component and sharing of costs
(1) This section sets out how the Operator must make a
determination under paragraph 29(2)(d) about:
(a) the amount of the counselling and psychological
component of redress for a person; and
(b) the amount of each responsible institution’s share
of the costs of that component.
Note: This section only applies if the Operator approves the
person’s application for redress.
(2) The Operator must apply the assessment framework to
work out the amount of the component. The amount must
not be more than $5,000, regardless of the number of
responsible institutions.
(3) The Operator must work out, in accordance with the
rules, the amount that is each responsible institution’s
share of the costs of the component.
Note: For funder of last resort cases, subsection 165(3) affects
how the amount of the counselling and psychological
component and the share of the costs of the component is
worked out.
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32 The assessment framework
(1) The Minister may declare, in writing, a method, or
matters to take into account, for the purposes of working
out:
(a) the amount of redress payment for a person; and
(b) the amount of the counselling and psychological
component of redress for a person.
Note: For variation or revocation of the declaration, see
subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
(2) The declaration is the assessment framework.
(3) The declaration is a legislative instrument, but section 42
(disallowance) of the Legislation Act 2003 does not apply
to it.
33 The assessment framework policy guidelines
(1) The Operator may take into account the assessment
framework policy guidelines when applying the
assessment framework for the purposes of sections 30
and 31.
(2) The Minister may, in writing, make guidelines for the
purposes of applying the assessment framework.
(3) The guidelines are the assessment framework policy
guidelines.
(4) The guidelines are not a legislative instrument.
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Division 5—Notice of determination to applicant
and participating institutions
34 Notice of determination to applicant
(1) If the Operator makes a determination under section 29
on an application for redress for a person, the Operator
must give the person written notice of the determination
stating:
(a) whether or not the application has been approved;
and
(b) the reasons for the determination; and
(c) that the person may apply under section 73 for
review of the determination.
(2) If the application has been approved, the notice must
include the offer of redress to the person under
section 39.
(3) The notice must also:
(a) specify the day by which the person may apply for
review of the determination (which must be at least
28 days, but no longer than 6 months, after the date
of the notice) under section 73; and
(b) comply with any matters prescribed by the rules.
35 Notice of determination to participating institutions
(1) If:
(a) the Operator makes a determination under
section 29 in relation to a person; and
(b) a participating institution is specified in the
determination;
then the Operator must give the institution written notice
of the determination in accordance with subsection (2).
(2) The notice must state:
(a) whether or not the application has been approved;
and
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(b) if Operator determined under paragraph 29(2)(b)
that the institution is responsible for the abuse and
therefore liable for providing redress to the person
under the scheme:
(i) that fact; and
(ii) the amount of the redress payment for the
person; and
(iii) the amount of the institution’s share of the
costs of that payment; and
(iv) the amount of the counselling and
psychological component of redress for the
person; and
(v) the amount of the institution’s share of the
costs of that component; and
(c) if the Operator determined under
paragraph 29(2)(g) that the institution is an
associate of a responsible institution—that fact; and
(d) if the Operator determined under
paragraph 29(2)(h) that the institution is not
responsible for the abuse and therefore not liable
for providing redress to the person under the
scheme—that fact; and
(e) if the Operator determined under paragraph 29(2)(i)
that the institution is the funder of last resort for a
defunct institution—that fact; and
(f) the reasons for the determination, as they relate to
the institution; and
(g) the day by which the person may apply under
section 73 for review of the determination.
(3) The notice must also comply with any requirements
prescribed by the rules.
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Division 6—Effect of determination and
admissibility of evidence in civil
proceedings
36 Effect of determination
(1) A determination by the Operator under section 29 has
effect only for the purposes of the scheme.
(2) In particular, a determination under section 29 that an
institution:
(a) is, or is not, responsible for the abuse of a person;
or
(b) is, or is not, liable to provide redress to a person;
is not a finding of law or fact made by a court in civil or
criminal proceedings.
Note: The determination is an administrative decision that is
made by the Operator on the basis of whether the Operator
considers there to be a reasonable likelihood that the
person is eligible for redress. It is not a judicial decision
made by a court in civil or criminal proceedings on the
basis of a higher standard of proof.
(3) However, a determination under section 29 that an
institution is responsible for abuse of a person and
therefore liable to provide redress may result in the
imposition of a civil liability on the institution to make
payments under the scheme in relation to that redress.
37 Admissibility of documents in evidence in civil
proceedings
(1) The following documents are not admissible in evidence
in civil proceedings in a court or tribunal:
(a) a person’s application for redress;
(b) a document created solely for the purposes of
accompanying a person’s application for redress;
(c) a document created solely for the purposes of
complying with a request for information made by
the Operator under section 24 or 25 in relation to a
person’s application for redress.
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(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the admission of the
document in evidence in civil proceedings is for the
purposes of giving effect to this Act.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) (and without limiting
that subsection), if the admission of the document in
evidence is in civil proceedings for judicial review of a
decision made under this Act, then the admission is for
the purposes of giving effect to this Act.
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply if the admission of the
document in evidence is in civil proceedings under, or
arising out of, section 28 (which is about providing false
or misleading documents or information to an officer of
the scheme).
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Part 2-4—Offers and acceptance of redress
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
38 Simplified outline of this Part
If the Operator approves a person’s application for
redress, the Operator must give the person a written offer
of redress. The offer must include the information set out
in section 39. The person may accept or decline the offer.
If the person wishes to accept the offer, he or she must do
so by giving the Operator, within the acceptance period,
an acceptance document that complies with section 42. If
the person accepts the offer, then the person will be
provided with redress under the scheme. The person also
releases all the participating institutions determined by
the Operator to be responsible for the abuse (as well as
the officials of those institutions, the associates of those
institutions and the officials of the associates of those
institutions) from all civil liability for the abuse of the
person. However, the abuser is not released from liability
for the abuse.
If the person accepts the offer, the Operator must notify
the participating institutions determined by the Operator
to be responsible for the abuse of the person’s acceptance
of the offer (including the components of redress that the
person wishes to receive).
If the person declines the offer (either by formally
declining, or by doing nothing, in the acceptance period),
the person is not required to release any institution or
official from civil liability for the abuse of the person, but
the person will not be provided with redress under the
scheme.
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Division 2—Offers of redress
39 Offer of redress
If the Operator approves a person’s application for
redress, the Operator must give the person a written offer
of redress that:
(a) explains the 3 components of redress (i.e. redress
payment, access to the counselling and
psychological component of redress for the person,
and direct personal response); and
(b) specifies the amount of the redress payment; and
(c) specifies whether the counselling and psychological
component of redress for the person consists of:
(i) access to the counselling and psychological
services that are provided under the scheme;
or
(ii) the counselling and psychological services
payment; and
(d) if the counselling and psychological component of
redress for the person consists of the counselling
and psychological services payment—specifies the
amount of that payment; and
(e) specifies the participating institutions determined
by the Operator under paragraph 29(2)(b) to be
responsible for the abuse and therefore liable for
providing redress to the person under the scheme;
and
(f) if any of those responsible institutions is a defunct
institution that has a representative:
(i) specifies the person who is the representative;
and
(ii) explains that the representative is liable for
providing redress to the person under the
scheme; and
(g) if any of those responsible institutions is a member
of a participating group—specifies the participating
institutions determined by the Operator under
paragraph 29(2)(g) to be associates of any of those
responsible institutions; and
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(h) specifies the participating institutions that were
identified in the person’s application but
determined by the Operator under
paragraph 29(2)(h) not to be responsible for the
person’s abuse and therefore not liable for
providing redress to the person under the scheme;
and
(i) if any of those responsible institutions is a
participating government institution that is
determined by the Operator under
paragraph 29(2)(i) to be the funder of last resort for
a defunct institution:
(i) specifies the defunct institution; and
(ii) explains that the government institution is
liable for the defunct institution’s
(hypothetical) share of the costs of providing
redress to the person; and
(iii) explains that a direct personal response is not
available to the person in relation to the abuse
for which the defunct institution is
responsible; and
(j) states the date of the offer; and
(k) specifies the acceptance period for the offer (see
section 40); and
(l) gives information about the opportunity for the
person to access legal services under the scheme for
the purposes of obtaining legal advice about
whether to accept the offer; and
(m) gives information about other services available to
the person under the scheme to help the person to
decide whether to accept the offer; and
(n) explains how to accept or decline the offer, should
the person decide to do so; and
(o) informs the person that the offer expires at the end
of the acceptance period; and
(p) explains the effect of section 43 (which is about the
release from civil liability of the responsible
institutions, their officials, their associates and the
officials of their associates) should the person
accept the offer; and
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(q) informs the person that the person does not have to
accept the offer and that, by doing nothing, the
offer is taken to be declined at the end of the
acceptance period; and
(r) informs the person that the person will not be able
to make another application for redress under the
scheme, whether or not the offer is accepted; and
(s) informs the person that the person may request an
extension of the acceptance period and explains
how to make that request; and
(t) complies with any requirements prescribed by the
rules.
40 Acceptance period for offers of redress
(1) The acceptance period for an offer of redress to a person
is the period determined by the Operator, which must be
at least 6 months, starting on the date of the offer.
(2) Before the end of the acceptance period, the Operator
may, by written notice to the person, extend the
acceptance period if the Operator considers there are
exceptional circumstances that justify the extension.
(3) An extension under subsection (2) may be given:
(a) on the Operator’s own initiative; or
(b) on a request made by the person under
subsection (4).
(4) The person may request the Operator to extend the
acceptance period. The request must comply with any
requirements prescribed by the rules.
(5) If the Operator extends the period, the acceptance period
is the original period as extended by the Operator.
41 Notice of offer to participating institutions
(1) If:
(a) the Operator gives an offer of redress under
section 39; and
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(b) a participating institution or person referred to in
paragraph 39(e), (f) or (g) is specified in the offer;
then the Operator must give the institution or person
written notice of the offer.
(2) The notice must:
(a) state the acceptance period for the offer; and
(b) comply with any requirements prescribed by the
rules.
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Division 3—Accepting or declining offers of redress
42 Accepting the offer of redress
(1) A person may accept an offer of redress by complying
with this section.
(2) The person must give the Operator a document (the
acceptance document) that:
(a) is in the approved form; and
(b) states that the person accepts the offer; and
(c) states that the person releases and forever
discharges each of the following institutions and
officials (a released institution or official) from all
civil liability for abuse of the person that is within
the scope of the scheme:
(i) all participating institutions that are
determined by the Operator under
paragraph 29(2)(b) to be responsible for the
abuse of the person;
(ii) all participating institutions that are
determined by the Operator under
paragraph 29(2)(g) to be associates of those
responsible institutions;
(iii) all officials of those responsible institutions
and associates (other than an official who is an
abuser of the person); and
(d) states that the person forgoes any entitlement to be
paid damages by a released institution or official if
the released institution or official were joined as a
party to civil proceedings brought or continued by
the person against another party in relation to abuse
of the person that is within the scope of the scheme;
and
(e) states that the person will not, whether as an
individual, a representative party or a member of a
group, bring or continue any civil claim against a
released institution or official in relation to abuse of
the person that is within the scope of the scheme;
and
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(f) states the components of redress that the person
wishes to receive; and
(g) if the person wishes to receive a direct personal
response—specifies the participating institutions
that the person wishes to receive a direct personal
response from; and
(h) acknowledges that the person understands the effect
of accepting the offer; and
(i) is signed by the person; and
(j) complies with any requirements prescribed by the
rules.
(3) The person must give the Operator the acceptance
document:
(a) before the end of the acceptance period; and
(b) in the manner (if any) prescribed by the rules.
(4) Rules made for the purposes of paragraph (2)(j) must not
require the person to enter into a confidentiality
agreement.
43 Effect of acceptance on civil liability
If a person accepts an offer of redress in accordance with
section 42, then, at the time the person gives the
acceptance and by force of this section:
(a) the person releases and forever discharges every
released institution or official from civil liability for
abuse of the person that is within the scope of the
scheme; and
(b) the person cannot (whether as an individual, a
representative party or a member of a group) bring
or continue civil proceedings against a released
institution or official in relation to that abuse; and
(c) the release and discharge of civil liability of a
released institution or official for that abuse does
not:
(i) release or discharge another institution or
person from civil liability for that abuse; and
(ii) prevent the person (whether as an individual, a
representative party or a member of a group)
from bringing or continuing civil proceedings
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against another institution or person in relation
to that abuse; and
(d) if a released institution or official would, apart from
this section, be liable to make a contribution to
another institution or person in relation to damages
payable to the person in civil proceedings brought
or continued by the person (whether as an
individual, a representative party or a member of a
group) against the other institution or person in
relation to that abuse, then:
(i) the released institution or official is released
and forever discharged from liability to make
that contribution; and
(ii) the amount of damages payable to the person
in those proceedings is reduced by the amount
of that contribution.
44 Notice to participating institutions that the offer is
accepted
(1) If a person accepts an offer of redress in accordance with
section 42, then the Operator must give each institution
that was notified under section 41 about the offer written
notice of:
(a) the person’s acceptance of the offer; and
(b) the components of redress that the person wishes to
receive (including whether the person wishes to
receive a direct personal response from the
institution); and
(c) any matters prescribed by the rules.
(2) The notice must be accompanied by a copy of the
person’s acceptance document.
45 Declining the offer of redress
Declining by taking positive action
(1) A person may decline an offer of redress by giving the
Operator, before the end of the acceptance period, a
document that:
(a) is in the approved form; and
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(b) states that the person declines the offer; and
(c) acknowledges that the person understands the effect
of declining the offer (including that the person will
not be able to make another application for redress
under the scheme); and
(d) is signed by the person; and
(e) complies with any requirements prescribed by the
rules.
Declining by not accepting in the acceptance period
(2) A person is taken to have declined an offer of redress if
the person does not accept the offer in accordance with
section 42 before the end of the acceptance period.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if:
(a) the person has applied for review under section 73
of the Operator’s determination on the person’s
application for redress; and
(b) the review has not been completed at the end of the
acceptance period.
46 Notice to participating institutions that the offer is
declined
(1) If a person declines an offer of redress in accordance with
section 45, then the Operator must give each institution
that was notified under section 41 of the offer written
notice that the person has declined the offer.
(2) The notice must comply with any requirements
prescribed by the rules.
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Part 2-5—Provision of redress under the
scheme
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
47 Simplified outline of this Part
If a person accepts an offer of redress under the scheme,
then:
(a) the Operator must pay the redress payment to
the person; and
(b) the Operator must provide the person with the
counselling and psychological component of
redress which, depending on where the person
lives, consists of access to counselling and
psychological services or a counselling and
psychological services payment; and
(c) the responsible institutions for the abuse must
take reasonable steps to provide the person
with a direct personal response.
However, this does not apply if the person stated in the
acceptance document that he or she does not wish to
receive a particular component of redress (e.g. the person
stated that he or she does not wish to receive a direct
personal response from a particular participating
institution).
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Division 2—The redress payment
48 The Operator must pay the redress payment
(1) If:
(a) a person is entitled to redress under the scheme (see
section 12); and
(b) the person stated in the acceptance document that
the person wishes to be paid the redress payment;
then the Operator must pay the redress payment to the
person as soon as practicable.
(2) The rules may prescribe matters relating to the payment
of redress payments.
49 Protection of the redress payment—general
(1) A redress payment is a payment of compensation under
the scheme. However, for the purposes of:
(a) the Social Security Act 1991 and the Veterans’
Entitlements Act 1986; and
(b) any other legislation of the Commonwealth, a State
or a Territory;
the payment is not to be treated as being a payment of
compensation or damages.
Note: This subsection prevents a redress payment affecting other
payments that may be payable to the person under
legislation. For example, when determining whether a
social security payment is payable, or the amount of such
a payment, a redress payment is not to be taken into
account.
(2) For the purposes of the application of any law of the
Commonwealth, a State or a Territory in relation to a
redress payment:
(a) the payment and the entitlement to the payment are
absolutely inalienable, whether by way of, or in
consequence of, sale, assignment, charge,
execution, bankruptcy or otherwise; and
(b) no amount may be deducted from the payment.
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(3) Nothing in this Act prevents a liability insurance contract
from treating a redress payment as being a payment of
compensation or damages.
50 Additional protection of the redress payment—garnishee
orders
(1) If:
(a) a redress payment is being paid, or has been paid,
to the credit of an account; and
(b) a court order in the nature of a garnishee order
comes into force in relation to the account;
the court order does not apply to the saved amount (if
any) in the account.
(2) The saved amount is worked out as follows:
Method statement
Step 1. Work out the amount of the redress payment
that has been paid to the credit of the account in
the year immediately before the court order
came into force.
Step 2. Subtract from the amount of that payment the
total amount withdrawn from the account
during that year: the result is the saved amount.
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Division 3—Counselling and psychological
component of redress
51 The Operator must enable access to the counselling and
psychological component of redress
(1) This section applies if:
(a) a person is entitled to redress under the scheme (see
section 12); and
(b) the person stated in the acceptance document under
section 42 that the person wishes to access the
counselling and psychological component of
redress.
(2) If the place where the person lives (as stated in the
person’s application) is in a participating jurisdiction that
is a declared provider of counselling and psychological
services under the scheme, then:
(a) the Operator must, as soon as practicable after the
person becomes entitled to redress, refer the person
to the participating jurisdiction; and
(b) the participating jurisdiction must, as soon as
practicable after receiving the referral, provide for
the delivery of counselling and psychological
services under the scheme in accordance with the
National Service Standards.
(3) If subsection (2) does not apply, then the Operator must,
as soon as practicable, pay the counselling and
psychological services payment to the person.
(4) The rules may prescribe matters relating to the payment
of counselling and psychological services payments.
52 Protection of the counselling and psychological services
payment—general
(1) A counselling and psychological services payment is a
payment of compensation under the scheme. However,
for the purposes of:
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(a) the Social Security Act 1991 and the Veterans’
Entitlements Act 1986; and
(b) any other legislation of the Commonwealth, a State
or a Territory;
the payment is not to be treated as being a payment of
compensation or damages.
Note: This subsection prevents a counselling and psychological
services payment affecting other payments that may be
payable to the person under legislation. For example,
when determining whether a social security payment is
payable, or the amount of such a payment, a counselling
and psychological services payment is not to be taken into
account.
(2) For the purposes of the application of any law of the
Commonwealth, a State or a Territory in relation to a
counselling and psychological services payment:
(a) the payment and the entitlement to the payment are
absolutely inalienable, whether by way of, or in
consequence of, sale, assignment, charge,
execution, bankruptcy or otherwise; and
(b) no amount may be deducted from the payment.
(3) Nothing in this Act prevents a liability insurance contract
from treating a counselling and psychological services
payment as being a payment of compensation or
damages.
53 Additional protection of the counselling and
psychological services payment—garnishee
orders
(1) If:
(a) a counselling and psychological services payment
is being paid, or has been paid, to the credit of an
account; and
(b) a court order in the nature of a garnishee order
comes into force in relation to the account;
the court order does not apply to the saved amount (if
any) in the account.
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(2) The saved amount is worked out as follows:
Method statement
Step 1. Work out the amount of the counselling and
psychological services payment that has been
paid to the credit of the account in the year
immediately before the court order came into
force.
Step 2. Subtract from the amount of that payment the
total amount withdrawn from the account
during that year: the result is the saved amount.
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Division 4—Direct personal responses
54 Direct personal response from responsible institutions
(1) If a participating institution is given a notice under
section 44 that notifies the institution that a person wishes
to be given a direct personal response from the
institution, then the institution must take reasonable steps
to provide the person with a direct personal response.
(2) A direct personal response from a participating
institution to a person is any one or more of the
following:
(a) an apology or a statement of acknowledgement or
regret;
(b) an acknowledgement of the impact of the abuse on
the person;
(c) an assurance as to the steps the institution has
taken, or will take, to prevent abuse occurring
again;
(d) an opportunity for the person to meet with a senior
official of the institution.
(3) When providing a direct personal response, the
participating institution must take into account the direct
personal response framework.
55 The direct personal response framework
(1) The Minister may declare, in writing, guidelines about
how direct personal responses are to be provided under
the scheme.
Note: For variation or revocation of the declaration, see
subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
(2) The declaration is the direct personal response
framework.
(3) When making the declaration, the Minister must have
regard to the principles in section 56.
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(4) The declaration is a legislative instrument, but section 42
(disallowance) of the Legislation Act 2003 does not apply
to it.
56 General principles guiding provision of direct personal
responses
(1) All participating institutions should offer and provide on
request by a survivor:
(a) meaningful recognition of the institution’s
responsibility by way of a statement of apology,
acknowledgement or regret; and
(b) an assurance as to steps taken to protect against
further abuse.
(2) Engagement between a survivor and a participating
institution should occur only if, and to the extent that, a
survivor wishes it.
(3) Participating institutions should make clear what they are
willing to offer and provide by way of a direct personal
response to survivors. Institutions should ensure that they
are able to provide the direct personal response that they
offer to survivors.
(4) In offering direct personal responses, participating
institutions should be responsive to survivors’ needs.
(5) Participating institutions that already offer a broader
range of direct personal responses to survivors and others
should consider continuing to offer those forms of direct
personal response.
(6) Direct personal responses should be delivered by people
who have received training about the nature and impact
of child sexual abuse and the needs of survivors,
including cultural awareness and sensitivity training
where relevant.
(7) Participating institutions should welcome feedback from
survivors about the direct personal responses the
institutions offer and provide.
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Chapter 3—Special rules to deal with
exceptional cases
Part 3-1—Special rules allowing entitlement
to redress
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
57 Simplified outline of this Part
This Part deals with a number of special cases to provide
exemptions to the general rules of entitlement to redress
in Chapter 2 (particularly section 12). Under this Part, a
person who would not be entitled to redress under the
general rules may nevertheless be entitled to redress
because of the application of the exemptions in this Part.
If a person makes an application for redress, but dies
before accepting an offer of redress, the person (or the
person’s estate) will not be entitled to redress. Division 2
deals with that case and allows for a redress payment to
be paid to other persons in certain circumstances.
If abuse of a person occurred inside a non-participating
State, the person would not be eligible (and therefore not
entitled) to redress because the abuse is not within the
scope of the scheme (see sections 13 and 14). However,
if a Commonwealth institution or a participating Territory
institution is primarily responsible for the abuse, the
person may be entitled to redress. Division 3 deals with
that case.
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Division 2—Death of person before acceptance of
redress offer
58 Person dies before determination is made on application
for redress
(1) This section applies if:
(a) a person makes an application for redress under
section 19; and
(b) the person dies before a determination on the
application is made under section 29.
(2) The Operator must continue to deal with the application
as if the person had not died.
(3) If the Operator approves the application under
paragraph 29(2)(a), then the Operator must:
(a) determine, under paragraph 29(2)(b), each
participating institution that is responsible for the
abuse; and
(b) determine, under paragraph 29(2)(c):
(i) the amount of the redress payment for the
person; and
(ii) the amount of each responsible institution’s
share of the costs of the redress payment; and
(c) if paragraph 29(2)(i) applies to a participating
government institution and a defunct institution—
determine, under that paragraph, that the
participating government institution is the funder of
last resort for the defunct institution.
(4) The redress payment for the person is payable in
accordance with section 60.
(5) The rules may prescribe matters relating to the giving of
notices to a person or a participating institution in relation
to the operation of this section.
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59 Person dies before offer of redress is accepted, declined
or withdrawn
(1) This section applies if:
(a) a person makes an application for redress under
section 19; and
(b) the Operator makes a determination under
section 29 approving the application; and
(c) the Operator gives the person an offer of redress
under section 39; and
(d) the person dies before the offer is accepted,
declined or withdrawn.
(2) The offer is taken to be withdrawn immediately after the
person dies.
(3) If, before the person died:
(a) the person had not made an application under
section 73 for review of the determination; or
(b) the person had made such an application but the
review had been completed;
then the redress payment for the person is payable in
accordance with section 60.
(4) If, before the person died:
(a) the person had made an application under
section 73 for review of the determination; and
(b) the review had not been completed;
then:
(c) the application for review continues as if the person
had not died; and
(d) if the review determination approves the person’s
application for redress—the redress payment for the
person specified in the review determination is
payable in accordance with section 60.
(5) The rules may prescribe matters relating to the giving of
notices to a person or a participating institution in relation
to the operation of this section.
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60 Entitlement to redress payment
(1) This section applies if under subsection 58(4) or 59(3) or
paragraph 59(4)(d) a redress payment for a deceased
person is payable in accordance with this section.
(2) The Operator must:
(a) determine who should be paid the redress payment;
and
(b) pay the redress payment to that person or those
persons as soon as practicable.
(3) In determining who should be paid the redress payment,
the Operator may consider the people who are entitled to
the property of the deceased person under:
(a) the deceased person’s will; and
(b) the law relating to the disposition of the property of
deceased persons.
(4) The Operator may pay the redress payment without
requiring:
(a) production of probate of the will of the deceased
person; or
(b) letters of administration of the estate of the
deceased person.
(5) The rules may prescribe matters relating to the payment
of redress payments under this section.
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Division 3—Abuse for which a Commonwealth
institution or participating Territory
institution is responsible
61 Abuse occurring inside a non-participating State
(1) For the purposes of subsection 13(2), a person is eligible
for redress under the scheme if:
(a) the person would be eligible under subsection 13(1)
apart from the fact that the person does not meet the
condition in paragraph 13(1)(b) because the sexual
abuse of the person occurred inside a
non-participating State (disregarding subsection (2)
of this section); and
(b) a Commonwealth institution or a participating
Territory institution is primarily responsible for the
abuse of the person.
(2) For the purposes of subsection 14(2), if a person is
eligible for redress under the scheme because of
subsection (1) of this section, then the abuse of the person
is within the scope of the scheme.
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Part 3-2—Special rules excluding entitlement
to redress
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
62 Simplified outline of this Part
This Part deals with a number of special cases to provide
exclusions to the general rules of entitlement to redress in
Chapter 2. Under this Part, a person who would otherwise
be entitled to redress under the general rules may
nevertheless not be entitled to redress because of the
application of the exclusions in this Part.
If a person is sentenced to imprisonment for 5 years or
longer for an offence against the law of the
Commonwealth, a State, a Territory or a foreign country,
the person will not be entitled to redress unless the
Operator makes a determination under subsection 63(5).
Division 2 deals with that case.
A person is also not entitled to redress under the scheme
while a security notice is in force in relation to the
person. Division 3 deals with that case.
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Division 2—Special assessment of applicants with
serious criminal convictions
63 Special assessment of applicants with serious criminal
convictions
(1) This section applies if:
(a) a person makes an application under section 19 for
redress for abuse of the person; and
(b) before or after making the application, the person is
sentenced to imprisonment for 5 years or longer for
an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, a
State, a Territory or a foreign country.
(2) For the purposes of subsection 12(4), the person is not
entitled to redress under the scheme unless there is a
determination in force under subsection (5) of this section
that the person is not prevented from being entitled to
redress.
(3) As soon as practicable after becoming aware of the
person’s sentence, the Operator must:
(a) consider whether to make a determination under
subsection (5); and
(b) give a written notice under subsection (4) to each of
the following (a specified advisor):
(i) if the abuse of the person occurred inside a
participating State or a participating
Territory—the Attorney-General of the State
or Territory, or another person nominated by
that Attorney-General in writing;
(ii) if the abuse of the person occurred outside a
participating State or a participating
Territory—the Commonwealth
Attorney-General;
(iii) if the offence was against a law of a
participating State or a participating
Territory—the Attorney-General of the State
or Territory, or another person nominated by
that Attorney-General in writing;
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(iv) if the offence was against a law not covered by
subparagraph (iii)—the Commonwealth
Attorney-General.
(4) The notice must:
(a) request the specified advisor to provide advice
about whether the Operator should make a
determination under subsection (5); and
(b) include sufficient information to enable the
specified advisor to provide that advice; and
(c) specify the period (which must be at least 28 days
starting on the date of the notice) in which the
specified advisor may provide that advice.
(5) The Operator may determine that the person is not
prevented from being entitled to redress under the
scheme if the Operator is satisfied that providing redress
to the person under the scheme would not:
(a) bring the scheme into disrepute; or
(b) adversely affect public confidence in, or support
for, the scheme.
(6) When making a determination under subsection (5), the
Operator must take into account:
(a) any advice given by a specified advisor in the
period referred to in the notice; and
(b) the nature of the offence; and
(c) the length of the sentence of imprisonment; and
(d) the length of time since the person committed the
offence; and
(e) any rehabilitation of the person; and
(f) any other matter that the Operator considers is
relevant.
(7) When taking into account the matters set out in
subsection (6), the Operator must give greater weight to
any advice that:
(a) is given by a specified advisor from the jurisdiction
in which the abuse of the person occurred; and
(b) is given in the period referred to in the notice;
than to any other matter.
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(8) The rules may prescribe matters relating to the giving of
notices to a person or a participating institution in relation
to a determination under subsection (5).
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Division 3—Security notices
Subdivision A—No entitlement to redress while security
notice in force
64 Person not entitled to redress while security notice in
force
For the purposes of subsection 12(4), a person is not
entitled to redress under the scheme while a security
notice is in force in relation to the person.
Subdivision B—Security notice
65 Security notice from the Home Affairs Minister
(1) The Home Affairs Minister may give the Minister a
written notice (a security notice) requiring that this
Division apply in relation to a specified person if:
(a) the Foreign Affairs Minister gives the Home
Affairs Minister a notice under subsection 66(1) in
relation to the person; or
(b) the person’s visa is cancelled under section 116 or
128 of the Migration Act 1958 because of an
assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence
Organisation that the person is directly or indirectly
a risk to security (within the meaning of section 4
of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Act 1979); or
(c) the person’s visa is cancelled under section 134B of
the Migration Act 1958 (emergency cancellation on
security grounds) and the cancellation has not been
revoked because of subsection 134C(3) of that Act;
or
(d) the person’s visa is cancelled under section 501 of
the Migration Act 1958 and there is an assessment
by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
that the person is directly or indirectly a risk to
security (within the meaning of section 4 of the
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act
1979).
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(2) Before giving a security notice, the Home Affairs
Minister must have regard to the extent (if any) that any
payments to the person under the scheme have been or
may be used for a purpose that might prejudice the
security of Australia or a foreign country, if the Home
Affairs Minister is aware of that extent.
(3) Subsection (2) does not limit the matters to which regard
may be had when giving a security notice.
(4) A security notice is not a legislative instrument.
66 Notice from the Foreign Affairs Minister
(1) If:
(a) either:
(i) under subsection 14(2) of the Australian
Passports Act 2005, the Foreign Affairs
Minister refuses to issue a person an
Australian travel document; or
(ii) under section 22 of that Act, the Foreign
Affairs Minister cancels a person’s Australian
travel document; and
(b) the refusal or cancellation was because of a
refusal/cancellation request made in relation to the
person under subsection 14(1) of that Act; and
(c) the request was made on the basis of the
circumstance mentioned in
subparagraph 14(1)(a)(i) of that Act;
the Foreign Affairs Minister may give the Home Affairs
Minister a written notice setting out those matters.
(2) A notice under subsection (1) is not a legislative
instrument.
67 Copy of a security notice to be given to the Operator and
the Human Services Secretary
The Minister must give a copy of a security notice to:
(a) the Operator; and
(b) the Secretary of the Human Services Department.
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68 Period a security notice is in force
A security notice comes into force on the day it is given
to the Minister, and remains in force until it is revoked.
69 Annual review of a security notice
Before the end of the following periods, the Home
Affairs Minister must consider whether to revoke a
security notice (if it has not already been revoked):
(a) 12 months after it came into force;
(b) 12 months after the Home Affairs Minister last
considered whether to revoke it.
70 Revoking a security notice
(1) The Home Affairs Minister may, by written notice given
to the Minister, revoke a security notice.
(2) The revocation takes effect on the day it is made.
(3) The Minister must give a copy of a notice under
subsection (1) to:
(a) the Operator; and
(b) the Secretary of the Human Services Department.
Subdivision C—Other matters affected by a security
notice
71 Other matters affected by a security notice
(1) If at the time a security notice comes into force in relation
to a person:
(a) the person has made an application for redress
under section 19; and
(b) either:
(i) a determination has not been made in relation
to the application under section 29; or
(ii) an offer of redress has not been given to the
person under section 39;
then, at that time, the application is taken to have been
withdrawn by the person under subsection 22(1).
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(2) If at the time a security notice comes into force in relation
to a person:
(a) the person has made an application for redress
under section 19; and
(b) an offer of redress has been given to the person
under section 39; and
(c) the offer has not been accepted, declined or
withdrawn;
then, at that time:
(d) the offer is taken to be withdrawn; and
(e) the determination made under subsection 29(2) on
the application is taken to be revoked by the
Operator under subsection 29(4); and
(f) the application is taken to have been withdrawn by
the person under subsection 22(1).
(3) The rules may prescribe matters relating to the giving of
notices to a person or a participating institution in relation
to the operation of this Division in relation to the
person’s entitlement to redress.
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Chapter 4—Administrative matters
Part 4-1—Review of determinations
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
72 Simplified outline of this Part
A person may apply for review of a determination of the
Operator under section 29 in relation to the person’s
application for redress under the scheme.
There are a number of determinations under section 29
that the person may seek to be reviewed. For example, if
the Operator approved the application, the person may
seek review of the amount of the redress payment. If the
Operator did not approve the application, the person may
seek review of that determination.
An application for review must be made within the period
specified in the notice of determination given by the
Operator to the person under section 34.
If, on review, a determination under subsection 29(2) is
varied or substituted, the Operator must withdraw the
offer of redress and give the person a new offer in
accordance with section 39. If the determination is
affirmed, the Operator must extend the acceptance period
for the original offer for an additional 2 months.
The Operator must notify the person who applied for
review, and certain participating institutions, about the
outcome of the review.
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Division 2—Review of determinations
73 Application for review of determination
(1) If:
(a) a person has made an application for redress; and
(b) the Operator has made a determination (the original
determination) on the application under section 29;
then the person may apply to the Operator for review of
the original determination.
(2) The application for review must:
(a) be made before the day specified in the notice of
the determination given under section 34; and
(b) be in the approved form.
74 Withdrawal of application for review
(1) The person may withdraw an application for review, by
giving oral or written notice to the Operator, at any time
before the review has been completed.
(2) An application for review that is withdrawn under
subsection (1) is taken never to have been made.
75 The review
(1) If an application is made under section 73, the Operator
must review the original determination or cause the
original determination to be reviewed by an independent
decision-maker:
(a) to whom the Operator’s power under this section is
delegated; and
(b) who was not involved in the making of the
determination.
(2) The person reviewing the original determination must:
(a) reconsider the determination; and
(b) make a determination (the review determination)
doing one of the following:
(i) affirming the original determination;
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(ii) varying the original determination;
(iii) setting the original determination aside and
substituting a new determination.
(3) When reviewing the original determination, the person
may have regard only to the information and documents
that were available to the person who made the original
determination.
76 Date of effect of review determination
(1) This section applies if the review determination:
(a) varies the original determination; or
(b) sets aside the original determination and substitutes
a new determination.
(2) The review determination takes effect on the day
specified in the review determination.
(3) From the day the review determination takes effect, the
original determination as varied or substituted is taken to
be the determination made by the Operator under
section 29.
77 Notice of review determination to applicant
The Operator must give the applicant written notice of
the review determination, stating the reasons for it.
78 Interaction between review and offer of redress
(1) This section applies if:
(a) a person is given an offer of redress under
section 39; and
(b) the person applies for review of the original
determination.
(2) If the person accepts or declines the offer in the
acceptance period for the offer but before the review has
been completed, then the application for review is taken
to have been withdrawn immediately before the person
accepted or declined the offer.
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(3) If, on review, the original determination is varied or
substituted, then the Operator must:
(a) withdraw the offer and notify the person in writing
of that withdrawal; and
(b) if the determination as varied or substituted
approves the application for redress—give the
person a new written offer of redress in accordance
with section 39.
(4) If:
(a) on review, the original determination is affirmed;
and
(b) the determination as affirmed approves the
application for redress; and
(c) the person has been given an offer of redress under
section 39;
then the Operator must extend the acceptance period
under subsection 40(2) for an additional 2 months.
79 Notices to participating institutions about review
(1) If:
(a) a person makes an application for review under
section 73; or
(b) a person withdraws an application for review under
subsection 74(1); or
(c) a review determination is made under
subsection 75(2);
then the Operator must give each participating institution
that was notified under section 35 written notice of that
fact.
(2) The notice must comply with any requirements
prescribed by the rules.
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Part 4-2—Nominees
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
80 Simplified outline of this Part
If a person makes an application, or proposes to make an
application, for redress under the scheme, the Operator
may appoint someone else to be the person’s nominee. If
a nominee is appointed, then the nominee can act on
behalf of the person for the purposes of the scheme.
There are 2 types of nominees:
(a) assistance nominees; and
(b) legal nominees.
While both types of nominees may act on behalf of the
person for the purposes of the scheme (for example,
communicate with the Operator), there are some matters
for which only the legal nominee (and not the assistance
nominee) may act on behalf of the person. Those matters
are set out in sections 84 and 85. Importantly, the
assistance nominee may not make the application for
redress, or accept or decline an offer of redress, on behalf
of the person (but the legal nominee may do that on
behalf of the person).
This Part deals with the appointment of nominees, their
functions, duties and responsibilities, and other
consequences of being a nominee for the purposes of the
scheme.
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Division 2—Appointment of nominees
81 Appointment of nominees
(1) If a person (the applicant) makes an application for
redress under the scheme, or proposes to make such an
application, the Operator may, in writing, appoint another
person to be:
(a) the assistance nominee of the applicant; or
(b) the legal nominee of the applicant.
Note: The assistance nominee and legal nominee may be a body
corporate.
(2) The Operator must not appoint a person to be the
assistance nominee of the applicant unless both the
person and the applicant give written consent to the
appointment.
(3) The Operator must not appoint a person to be the legal
nominee of the applicant unless:
(a) under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a
Territory the person has power to make decisions
for the applicant in all matters that are relevant to
the duties of a legal nominee; and
(b) the person gives written consent to the
appointment; and
(c) the Operator has taken into account any wishes of
the applicant regarding the making of such an
appointment.
Note: A person who may be eligible to be the legal nominee of
the applicant is a person who, under a guardianship order
or power of attorney, has power to make decisions for the
applicant in all relevant matters.
(4) The Operator must give a copy of an appointment under
this section to:
(a) the nominee; and
(b) the applicant.
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82 Suspension and revocation of nominee appointments
(1) If:
(a) an assistance nominee or a legal nominee appointed
under section 81 requests the Operator, in writing,
to revoke the appointment; or
(b) the applicant requests the Operator, in writing, to
revoke the appointment of the applicant’s
assistance nominee;
then the Operator must revoke the appointment as soon as
practicable.
(2) If:
(a) the Operator gives a nominee a notice under
section 87; and
(b) the nominee informs the Operator that:
(i) an event or change of circumstances has
happened or is likely to happen; and
(ii) the event or change of circumstances is likely
to have an effect referred to in
paragraph 87(1)(b);
then the Operator may suspend or revoke the nominee’s
appointment.
(3) If:
(a) the Operator gives a nominee a notice under
section 87; and
(b) the nominee does not comply with a requirement of
the notice;
then the Operator may suspend or revoke the nominee’s
appointment.
(4) While an appointment is suspended, the appointment has
no effect for the purposes of this Act.
(5) The Operator may, at any time, revoke the suspension of
an appointment under subsection (2) or (3).
(6) The suspension or revocation of an appointment, and the
revocation of such a suspension, must be in writing.
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(7) The revocation of an appointment has effect on and from
such day, being later than the day of the revocation, as is
specified in the revocation.
(8) The Operator must give the nominee and the applicant a
copy of:
(a) a suspension of the nominee’s appointment; or
(b) a revocation of the nominee’s appointment; or
(c) a revocation of a suspension of the nominee’s
appointment.
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Division 3—Duties, functions and responsibilities of
nominees
83 Duty of nominee
(1) It is the duty of an assistance nominee or a legal nominee
of a person to act in the best interests of the person at all
times.
(2) A nominee does not commit a breach of the duty imposed
by subsection (1) by doing an act if, when the act is done,
the nominee reasonably believes that it is in the best
interests of the person that the act be done.
(3) A nominee does not commit a breach of the duty imposed
by subsection (1) by refraining from doing an act if, at
the relevant time, the nominee reasonably believes that it
is in the best interests of the person that the act not be
done.
84 Actions of assistance nominee
(1) If a person has an assistance nominee, then any act that
may be done by the person under, or for the purposes of,
this Act may be done by that assistance nominee.
(2) However, subsection (1) does not authorise a person’s
assistance nominee to do any of the following on behalf
of the person:
(a) make an application for redress under section 19;
(b) accept an offer of redress under section 42;
(c) decline an offer of redress under section 45;
(d) do an act for the purposes of Division 2;
(e) do an act prescribed by the rules.
(3) If under a provision of this Act the Operator gives a
notice to a person who has an assistance nominee,
subsection (1) does not extend to an act that is required
by the notice to be done by the person.
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(4) Any act done by a person’s assistance nominee under this
section has effect, for the purposes of this Act (other than
this Part), as if it had been done by the person.
85 Actions of legal nominee
(1) If a person has a legal nominee, then any act that may be
done by the person under, or for the purposes of, this Act
may be done by that legal nominee.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1):
(a) an application that may be made by the person
under this Act may be made by that legal nominee
on behalf of the person; and
(b) an application so made is taken to be made by the
person; and
(c) an offer of redress that may be accepted under
section 42 or declined under section 45 by the
person may be accepted or declined in accordance
with the relevant provision by that legal nominee
on behalf of the person; and
(d) an offer so accepted or declined is taken to have
been done so by the person.
(3) Any act done by a person’s legal nominee under this
section has effect, for the purposes of this Act (other than
this Part), as if it had been done by the person.
86 Giving notices to assistance nominee or legal nominee
(1) If a person has an assistance nominee or a legal nominee,
then any notice that the Operator is required or authorised
by this Act to give to the person may be given by the
Operator to that nominee.
(2) A notice given under subsection (1) must, in every
respect, be in the same form, and in the same terms, as if
it were being given to the person.
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87 Nominee to inform the Operator of matters affecting
ability to act as nominee
(1) The Operator may give a nominee of a person a notice
that requires the nominee to inform the Operator if:
(a) either:
(i) an event or change of circumstances happens;
or
(ii) the nominee becomes aware that an event or
change of circumstances is likely to happen;
and
(b) the event or change of circumstances is likely to
affect:
(i) the ability of the nominee to act as the
assistance nominee or legal nominee of the
person; or
(ii) the ability of the Operator to give notices to
the nominee under this Act; or
(iii) the ability of the nominee to comply with
notices given to the nominee by the Operator
under this Act.
(2) A notice under subsection (1):
(a) must be in writing; and
(b) must specify how, and the period within which, the
nominee is to inform the Operator.
(3) A notice under subsection (1) is not ineffective just
because it does not comply with paragraph (2)(b).
(4) The period specified under paragraph (2)(b) must not end
earlier than 14 days after:
(a) the day on which the event or change of
circumstances happens; or
(b) the day on which the nominee becomes aware that
the event or change of circumstances is likely to
happen.
(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to a requirement in a notice
for a nominee to inform the Operator of any proposal by
the nominee to leave Australia.
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Division 4—Other matters relating to nominees
88 Protection of person against liability for actions of
nominee
A person is not to be taken, because of the operation of
this Part, to have committed an offence against this Act in
relation to any act or omission of the person’s nominee.
89 Protection of nominee against criminal liability
A nominee of a person is not subject to any criminal
liability under this Act in relation to:
(a) any act or omission of the person; or
(b) anything done, in good faith, by the nominee in his
or her capacity as nominee.
90 Informing nominee if notice given to person
If, under a provision of this Act (other than a provision of
this Part), the Operator gives a notice to a person who has
a nominee, the Operator may inform the nominee of the
giving of the notice and of the terms of the notice.
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Part 4-3—Protecting information under the
scheme
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
91 Simplified outline of this Part
Certain information about a person or an institution is
protected information and can only be obtained, recorded,
disclosed or used if this Act authorises that to happen.
Broadly, protected information is information about a
person or an institution that was obtained by an officer of
the scheme for the purposes of the scheme and is held in
the records of the Department or the Human Services
Department. An example of protected information about
a person is information that the person gives in his or her
application for redress. An example of protected
information about an institution is information that the
institution provides in compliance with a request for
information made by the Operator under section 25.
This Part sets out when a person is authorised to obtain,
record, disclose or use protected information. It also has
offences for when a person obtains, records, discloses or
uses protected information without authorisation under
this Act.
This Part also protects information contained in the
assessment framework policy guidelines and sets out
when a person is authorised to obtain, record, disclose or
use that information.
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Division 2—Use and disclosure of protected
information
92 Protected information
(1) This Division deals with how protected information may
be obtained, recorded, disclosed or used under this Act.
(2) Protected information is:
(a) information about a person or an institution that:
(i) was provided to, or obtained by, an officer of
the scheme for the purposes of the scheme;
and
(ii) is or was held in the records of the Department
or the Human Services Department; or
(b) information to the effect that there is no
information about a person or an institution held in
the records of a Department referred to in
subparagraph (a)(ii).
93 Main authorisation—obtaining, recording, disclosing or
using protected information
(1) A person may:
(a) obtain protected information; or
(b) make a record of protected information; or
(c) disclose protected information to another person; or
(d) use protected information;
if:
(e) the obtaining, recording, disclosure or use of the
information by the person is done:
(i) for the purposes of the scheme; or
(ii) with the express or implied consent of the
person or institution to which the information
relates; or
(f) the person believes on reasonable grounds that the
obtaining, recording, disclosure or use of the
information by the person is necessary to prevent or
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lessen a serious threat to an individual’s life, health
or safety.
(2) A person may use protected information to produce
information in an aggregated form that does not disclose,
either directly or indirectly, information about a
particular person or institution.
94 Additional authorisation—Operator disclosing to
nominee
The Operator may disclose protected information
provided by a person who has applied for redress to the
nominee of the person.
95 Additional authorisation—Operator disclosing in public
interest or for another specified purpose
(1) The Operator may disclose protected information that
was provided to, or obtained by, an officer of the scheme
for the purposes of the scheme if:
(a) the Operator certifies that the disclosure is
necessary in the public interest in a particular case
or class of cases and the disclosure is to such
persons and for such purposes as the Operator
determines; or
(b) the disclosure:
(i) is to a person who is expressly or impliedly
authorised by the person or institution to
which the information relates to obtain it; or
(ii) is to the Chief Executive Centrelink for the
purposes of a centrelink program (within the
meaning of the Human Services (Centrelink)
Act 1997); or
(iii) is to the Chief Executive Medicare for the
purposes of a medicare program (within the
meaning of the Human Services (Medicare)
Act 1973); or
(iv) is to the head (however described) of a
government institution, for the purposes of
that institution.
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(2) A person to whom protected information is disclosed
under subsection (1) may:
(a) obtain the information; or
(b) make a record of the information; or
(c) disclose the information to another person; or
(d) use the information;
if the person does so for the purpose for which the
information was disclosed to the person under
subsection (1).
(3) In certifying for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) or
disclosing information for the purposes of
subparagraph (1)(b)(iv), the Operator must act in
accordance with any rules made for the purposes of
subsection (4).
(4) The rules may make provision for and in relation to the
exercise of either or both of the following:
(a) the Operator’s power to certify for the purposes of
paragraph (1)(a);
(b) the Operator’s power under subparagraph (1)(b)(iv)
to disclose information to the head of a government
institution.
(5) If a certificate or determination under paragraph (1)(a) is
given or made in writing, the certificate or determination
is not a legislative instrument.
96 Additional authorisation—Operator disclosing for law
enforcement or child safety or wellbeing
When this section applies
(1) This section applies if the Operator is satisfied that
disclosure of protected information is reasonably
necessary for either of the following purposes (a relevant
purpose):
(a) the enforcement of the criminal law;
(b) the safety or wellbeing of children.
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Disclosure by Operator
(2) The Operator may disclose the information to a
government institution that has functions that relate to the
relevant purpose.
(3) However, before disclosing protected information that
relates to a person who has applied for redress, the
Operator must have regard to the impact the disclosure
might have on the person.
Disclosure, use etc. by government official
(4) If information is disclosed to a government institution
under subsection (2), then an employee or officer of the
institution (the government official) may:
(a) obtain the information; or
(b) make a record of the information; or
(c) disclose the information to a person; or
(d) use the information;
but only if the government official does so for a relevant
purpose in the official’s capacity as an employee or
officer of the government institution.
Conditions
(5) The Operator may, in writing, impose conditions to be
complied with in relation to protected information
disclosed under subsection (2).
(6) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person is subject to a condition under
subsection (5); and
(b) the person engages in conduct (within the meaning
of the Criminal Code); and
(c) the person’s conduct breaches the condition.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 120 penalty
units, or both.
(7) An instrument under subsection (5) is not a legislative
instrument.
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97 Additional authorisation—disclosing etc. for a permitted
purpose
Disclosure, use etc. by a government official
(1) If protected information is disclosed to a government
institution, then an employee or officer of the institution
(the government official) may:
(a) obtain the information; or
(b) make a record of the information; or
(c) disclose the information to a person; or
(d) use the information;
if:
(e) the government official does so for any of the
following purposes (a permitted purpose):
(i) the enforcement of the criminal law;
(ii) the safety or wellbeing of children;
(iii) investigatory, disciplinary or employment
processes related to the safety or wellbeing of
children;
(iv) a purpose prescribed by the rules; and
(f) the government official does so in the official’s
capacity as an employee or officer of the
government institution; and
(g) a law of the Commonwealth (other than this Part),
or of a State or a Territory, does not prohibit the
government official from doing so.
Disclosure by a person to a government institution
(2) If:
(a) a person is satisfied that disclosure of protected
information is reasonably necessary for a permitted
purpose; and
(b) a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory
requires or permits the person to disclose the
information to a government institution that has
functions that relate to the permitted purpose;
then the person may disclose the information to the
government institution for that purpose.
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(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the person is:
(a) an officer of the scheme; or
(b) an employee or officer of a government institution.
Officers of government institutions
(4) The rules may prescribe that specified persons are
officers of a government institution for the purposes of
subsection (1) or paragraph (3)(b).
98 Additional authorisation—person engaged by
participating institution disclosing etc. for a
specified purpose
(1) A person engaged (whether as an employee or otherwise)
by a participating institution may:
(a) obtain protected information; or
(b) make a record of protected information; or
(c) disclose protected information to another person; or
(d) use protected information;
if the person believes, on reasonable grounds, that the
obtaining, recording, disclosure or use that is proposed to
be made of the information by the person is reasonably
necessary for one or more of the purposes specified in
subsection (2).
(2) The purposes for which the person may obtain, record,
disclose or use protected information are as follows:
(a) the purpose of the participating institution
complying with a request under section 25 to
provide information;
(b) the purpose of the participating institution
providing a direct personal response to a person
under section 54;
(c) the purpose of the participating institution
facilitating a claim under an insurance policy;
(d) the purpose of the participating institution
undertaking internal investigation and disciplinary
procedures.
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(3) However, before the person discloses information that
relates to another person who has applied for redress, the
person must have regard to the impact the disclosure
might have on the other person.
99 Offence—unauthorised access, recording, disclosure or
use of protected information
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person:
(i) obtains information; or
(ii) makes a record of information; or
(iii) discloses information to another person; or
(iv) uses information; and
(b) the person is not authorised or required by or under
this Act:
(i) to obtain the information; or
(ii) to make the record of the information; or
(iii) to disclose the information; or
(iv) to use the information; and
(c) the information is protected information.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 120 penalty
units, or both.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if:
(a) the person did not obtain the information under, for
the purposes of, or in connection with, the scheme;
or
(b) the person had already obtained the information
before the person obtained the information under,
for the purposes of, or in connection with, the
scheme.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the
matter in this subsection (see subsection 13.3(3) of the
Criminal Code).
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100 Offence—soliciting disclosure of protected information
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person solicits the disclosure of information
from an officer of the scheme or another person;
and
(b) the disclosure would be in contravention of this
Division; and
(c) the information is protected information.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 120 penalty
units, or both.
(2) A person may commit an offence under subsection (1)
whether or not any protected information is actually
disclosed.
101 Offence—offering to disclose protected information
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person offers to disclose (whether to a particular
person or otherwise) information about another
person or an institution; and
(b) the disclosure would be in contravention of this
Division; and
(c) the information is protected information.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 120 penalty
units, or both.
(2) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person holds himself or herself out as being able
to disclose (whether to a particular person or
otherwise) information about another person or an
institution; and
(b) the disclosure would be in contravention of this
Division; and
(c) the information is protected information.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 120 penalty
units, or both.
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Division 3—Use and disclosure of the assessment
framework policy guidelines
102 Main authorisation for obtaining, recording, disclosing
or using the assessment framework policy
guidelines
An officer of the scheme may obtain, make a record of,
disclose to another officer of the scheme or use
information that is contained in the assessment
framework policy guidelines if the officer does so for the
purposes of the scheme.
103 Additional authorisation—disclosure and use in
accordance with the National Redress Scheme
Agreement
(1) The Minister or the Operator may disclose information
contained in the assessment framework policy guidelines
to a person in accordance with the requirements set out in
the National Redress Scheme Agreement.
(2) A person to whom information is disclosed under
subsection (1) may obtain, make a record of, disclose to
another person or use that information in accordance with
the requirements set out in the National Redress Scheme
Agreement.
104 Offence—unauthorised recording, disclosure or use of
assessment framework policy guidelines
A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person:
(i) obtains information; or
(ii) makes a record of information; or
(iii) discloses information to another person; or
(iv) uses information; and
(b) the person is not authorised or required by or under
this Act:
(i) to obtain the information; or
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(ii) to make the record of the information; or
(iii) to disclose the information; or
(iv) to use the information; and
(c) the information is contained in the assessment
framework policy guidelines.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 120 penalty
units, or both.
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Division 4—Other matters
105 Disclosures to a court or tribunal
(1) A person must not be required to disclose to a court or
tribunal in any civil proceedings:
(a) protected information; or
(b) information that is contained in the assessment
framework policy guidelines.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the disclosure of the
information is for the purposes of giving effect to this
Act.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) (and without limiting
that subsection), if the disclosure of the information is in
civil proceedings for judicial review of a decision made
under this Act, then the disclosure is for the purposes of
giving effect to this Act.
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply if the disclosure of the
information is in civil proceedings under, or arising out
of, section 28 (which is about giving false or misleading
information, documents or statements to an officer of the
scheme).
(5) Subsection (1) does not apply if:
(a) the person did not obtain the information under, for
the purposes of, or in connection with, the scheme;
or
(b) the person had already obtained the information
before the person obtained the information under,
for the purposes of, or in connection with, the
scheme.
(6) Protected information and information that is contained
in the assessment framework policy guidelines are not to
be published by any person, court or tribunal.
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106 Disclosing information in good faith
(1) This section applies if a person, acting in good faith,
discloses information for the purposes of the scheme.
(2) The person is not liable to any civil or criminal
proceedings, or any disciplinary action, for disclosing the
information.
(3) In disclosing the information, the person cannot be held
to have breached any code of professional etiquette or
ethics or departed from any accepted standards of
professional conduct.
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Chapter 5—Participating institutions,
participating groups and
participating jurisdictions
Part 5-1—Participating institutions
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
107 Simplified outline of this Part
For a person to be eligible for redress, at least one
participating institution must be responsible for the abuse
of the person.
There are 4 types of institutions that are participating
institutions. These are:
(a) Commonwealth institutions (such as
Commonwealth Departments and bodies
established under Commonwealth law); and
(b) State institutions (such as State Departments
and certain bodies established under State
law); and
(c) Territory institutions (such as Territory
Departments and certain bodies established
under Territory law); and
(d) non-government institutions (such as churches
or sporting clubs).
While all Commonwealth institutions are participating
institutions, State institutions, Territory institutions and
non-government institutions are only participating
institutions if they agree to participate in the scheme and
the Minister makes a declaration under section 115 that
they are participating institutions.
A defunct institution (which is a government or
non-government institution that no longer exists) can
become a participating institution. However, it must have
a representative in order to do so. The representative acts
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on the institution’s behalf and assumes its obligations and
liabilities under the scheme (such as the obligation to
provide a direct personal response to a person and the
liability to pay funding contribution).
A lone institution (which is a non-government institution
that is not defunct and is not a member of a participating
group) can also become a participating institution.
A lone institution that is not a legal person (called an
unincorporated lone institution) must also have a
representative to become a participating institution. Its
representative may act on its behalf and will assume its
liability to pay funding contribution, but will not assume
any of its obligations under the scheme.
A lone institution that is a legal person (called an
incorporated lone institution) may have a representative,
but is not required to have one to become a participating
institution. Its representative may act on its behalf, but
will not assume any of its obligations or liabilities under
the scheme.
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Division 2—Institutions participating in the scheme
Subdivision A—Participating institutions
108 What is a participating institution?
(1) For a person to be eligible for redress for sexual abuse, or
non-sexual abuse, of the person, a participating institution
must be responsible for the abuse (see
paragraph 13(1)(d)).
(2) An institution is a participating institution under the
scheme if it is:
(a) a Commonwealth institution; or
(b) a participating State institution; or
(c) a participating Territory institution; or
(d) a participating non-government institution.
Subdivision B—Commonwealth institutions
109 What is a Commonwealth institution?
(1) An institution is a Commonwealth institution if:
(a) it is or was part of the Commonwealth; or
(b) it is or was a Commonwealth entity (within the
meaning of the Public Governance, Performance
and Accountability Act 2013); or
(c) it is or was a wholly-owned Commonwealth
company; or
(d) it is or was a body (whether or not incorporated)
established by or under a law of the
Commonwealth; or
(e) the rules prescribe that it is a Commonwealth
institution.
(2) However, an institution is not a Commonwealth
institution if:
(a) it is a body politic that is a participating Territory,
or is or was part of a body politic that is a
participating Territory; or
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(b) it is or was a body corporate (other than a
wholly-owned Commonwealth company) that is or
was registered under the Corporations Act 2001
(including a body corporate taken to be registered
under that Act because of the operation of
Chapter 10 of that Act (which is about transitional
provisions)); or
(c) the rules prescribe that it is not a Commonwealth
institution.
(3) Rules made for the purposes of paragraph (1)(e) or (2)(c)
may prescribe that an institution is, or is not, a
Commonwealth institution in relation to a period
specified by the rules.
Subdivision C—Participating State institutions
110 What is a participating State institution?
An institution is a participating State institution if:
(a) it is a State institution; and
(b) a declaration is in force under subsection 115(2)
that the institution is a participating institution.
111 What is a State institution?
(1) An institution is a State institution if:
(a) it is or was part of a State; or
(b) it is or was a body (whether or not incorporated)
established for a public purpose by or under a law
of a State; or
(c) the rules prescribe that it is a State institution.
(2) However, an institution is not a State institution if the
rules prescribe that it is not a State institution.
(3) Rules made for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c) or
subsection (2) may prescribe that an institution is, or is
not, a State institution in relation to a period specified by
the rules.
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Subdivision D—Participating Territory institutions
112 What is a participating Territory institution?
An institution is a participating Territory institution if:
(a) the institution is a Territory institution; and
(b) a declaration is in force under subsection 115(2)
that the institution is a participating institution.
113 What is a Territory institution?
(1) An institution is a Territory institution if:
(a) it is or was part of a participating Territory; or
(b) it is or was a body (whether or not incorporated)
established for a public purpose by or under a law
of a participating Territory; or
(c) the rules prescribe that it is a Territory institution.
(2) However, an institution is not a Territory institution if
the rules prescribe that it is not a Territory institution.
(3) Rules made for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c) or
subsection (2) may prescribe that an institution is, or is
not, a Territory institution in relation to a period specified
by the rules.
Subdivision E—Participating non-government
institutions
114 What is a participating non-government institution?
(1) An institution is a participating non-government
institution if:
(a) the institution is or was a non-government
institution; and
(b) a declaration is in force under subsection 115(2)
that the institution is a participating institution.
(2) An institution is a non-government institution if it is not
a Commonwealth institution, a State institution or a
Territory institution.
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(3) However, an institution is not a non-government
institution if the rules prescribe that the institution is not
a non-government institution.
(4) Rules made for the purposes of subsection (3) may
prescribe that an institution is not a non-government
institution in relation to a period specified by the rules.
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Division 3—Ministerial declarations about
participating institutions
115 Institutions becoming participating institutions
(1) An institution becomes a participating institution if the
Minister makes a declaration under subsection (2) in
relation to the institution.
(2) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, declare that
an institution is a participating institution.
Note 1: An institution may be identified by name, by inclusion in a
particular class, or in any other way.
Note 2: The Minister need not make a declaration under this
subsection for a Commonwealth institution because all
Commonwealth institutions are participating institutions
automatically (see section 108).
(3) The Minister must not make a declaration under
subsection (2) unless the Minister is satisfied that:
(a) for a State institution—the participating State has
agreed, in a way provided for in the State’s referral
Act or adoption Act, to the institution participating
in the scheme; and
(b) for a Territory institution—the participating
Territory has agreed to the institution participating
in the scheme; and
(c) for a non-government institution (other than a
defunct institution or an unincorporated lone
institution)—the institution has agreed to
participate in the scheme; and
(d) for a non-government institution that is a defunct
institution—a person has agreed:
(i) to the defunct institution participating in the
scheme; and
(ii) to be the representative for the defunct
institution; and
(e) for a non-government institution that is an
unincorporated lone institution:
(i) the institution has agreed to participate in the
scheme; and
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(ii) the institution has agreed to a person being the
representative for the institution; and
(iii) the person has agreed to being the
representative for the institution; and
(f) in all cases—any requirements prescribed by the
rules are satisfied.
Note 1: For how the agreement of a participating Territory, an
institution or a person is given, see section 186.
Note 2: For representatives for defunct institutions and lone
institutions, see Divisions 4 and 5.
(4) The Minister must not make a declaration under
subsection (2) in relation to an institution after:
(a) the second anniversary of the scheme start day; or
(b) a later day prescribed by the rules;
unless the institution is a defunct institution.
(5) If:
(a) a State or Territory has agreed to a State institution
or Territory institution participating in the scheme;
and
(b) the institution is a body corporate;
then the institution is taken to have also agreed to
participate in the scheme.
116 Institutions ceasing to be participating institutions
Revoking the declaration
(1) An institution ceases to be a participating institution if the
declaration made under subsection 115(2) in relation to
the institution is revoked under subsection (2), (3), (4) or
(5) of this section.
(2) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, revoke a
declaration made under subsection 115(2) in relation to
an institution.
Note: If the declaration is revoked, the institution will cease to
be a participating institution. However, it will still be a
participating institution in relation to a person who made
an application for redress before the declaration is revoked
(see subsection (7)).
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Minister must revoke on request
(3) If:
(a) a participating State requests the Minister in writing
to revoke a declaration made under
subsection 115(2) in relation to a State institution;
or
(b) a participating Territory requests the Minister in
writing to revoke a declaration made under
subsection 115(2) in relation to a Territory
institution; or
(c) a participating non-government institution (other
than a defunct institution) requests the Minister in
writing to revoke a declaration made under
subsection 115(2) in relation to the institution;
then the Minister must, by notifiable instrument, revoke
the declaration as soon as practicable.
Minister must revoke if no representative
(4) If a defunct participating non-government institution
ceases to have a representative, then the Minister must
revoke the declaration made under subsection 115(2) in
relation to the institution as soon as practicable.
(5) If a participating unincorporated lone institution ceases to
have a representative, then the Minister must revoke the
declaration made under subsection 115(2) in relation to
the institution as soon as practicable.
No revocation unless requirements in rules satisfied
(6) Despite subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5), the Minister
must not revoke a declaration made under
subsection 115(2) in relation to an institution unless any
requirements prescribed by the rules in relation to the
revocation are satisfied.
Institution continues to be participating institution for
limited time
(7) If the Minister revokes a declaration made under
subsection 115(2) in relation to an institution, then,
despite the revocation, the institution continues to be a
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participating institution in relation to a person who made
an application for redress before the revocation, as if the
declaration were still in force.
Example: If the Operator determines that the institution is
responsible for the abuse of the person, the institution will
still be required to provide a direct personal response to
the person (if the person chooses that component of
redress) and pay funding contribution in relation to the
person.
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Division 4—Participating defunct institutions
Subdivision A—Participating defunct institutions
117 What is a participating defunct institution?
A participating defunct institution is a participating
institution that is defunct.
Note: The institution may be a government institution or a
non-government institution.
Subdivision B—Representatives for participating
defunct institutions
118 Representatives for participating defunct institutions
(1) A participating defunct institution must have a
representative for the institution.
Note: This Act applies to the representative for a participating
defunct institution as if it were the defunct institution (see
sections 121, 122 and 123).
(2) The representative for a defunct Commonwealth
institution is the Commonwealth.
(3) The representative for a defunct participating State
institution is the participating State.
(4) The representative for a defunct participating Territory
institution is the participating Territory.
(5) The representative for a defunct participating
non-government institution is the person in relation to
whom a declaration is force under section 119.
(6) A participating defunct institution may have only one
representative for the institution.
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(7) However, a person may be the representative for more
than one participating defunct institution.
119 Becoming the representative for a defunct
non-government institution
If a defunct non-government institution is declared to be
a participating institution under subsection 115(2), then
the Minister must, by notifiable instrument, make a
declaration that the person who agreed to be the
representative for the institution (as referred to in
paragraph 115(3)(d)) is the representative for the
institution.
120 Ceasing to be the representative for a defunct
non-government institution
(1) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, vary or
revoke a declaration made under section 119 in relation
to a representative for a defunct non-government
institution.
(2) If:
(a) the representative for a defunct institution requests
the Minister in writing to revoke the declaration
made under section 119 in relation to the
representative; and
(b) any requirements prescribed by the rules in relation
to the person ceasing to be the representative are
satisfied;
then the Minister must, by notifiable instrument, revoke
the declaration made under section 119 as soon as
practicable.
Note: If a participating defunct non-government institution does
not have a representative, then the Minister must revoke
the declaration made under subsection 115(2) that the
defunct institution is a participating institution (see
subsection 116(4)).
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(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the Minister must not
vary or revoke a declaration made under section 119 in
relation to an institution unless any requirements
prescribed by the rules in relation to the variation or
revocation are satisfied.
(4) If:
(a) the Minister revokes a declaration made under
subsection 115(2) in relation to a defunct
institution; but
(b) because of subsection 116(7), the institution
continues to be a participating institution in relation
to a person who made an application for redress
before the revocation;
then the representative for the institution continues to be
the representative for the institution in relation to the
person (even if the declaration made under section 119
for the representative has been revoked under this
section).
121 Actions of the representative for a defunct institution
(1) Any act that may be done by a participating defunct
institution under, or for the purposes of, this Act must be
done by the representative for the institution on behalf of
the institution.
(2) Any act that is done by the representative for a
participating defunct institution on behalf of the
institution has effect, for the purposes of this Act, as if it
had been done by the institution.
122 Giving notices to the representative for a defunct
institution
Any notice that the Operator is required or authorised by
this Act to give to a participating defunct institution must
be given by the Operator to the representative for the
institution.
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123 Obligations and liabilities of the representative for a
defunct institution
Any obligation or liability imposed by this Act on a
participating defunct institution is taken to be imposed
instead on the representative for the institution.
Note 1: An example of an obligation that may be imposed on the
defunct institution is the obligation under section 54 to
provide a direct personal response to a person. That
obligation will be imposed instead on the representative.
Note 2: An example of a liability that may be imposed on the
defunct institution is the liability under section 149 to pay
funding contribution. That liability will be imposed
instead on the representative.
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Division 5—Participating lone institutions
Subdivision A—Participating lone institutions
124 What is a participating lone institution?
(1) A participating lone institution is a participating
institution that is a lone institution.
(2) An institution is a lone institution if it:
(a) is a non-government institution; and
(b) is not a member of a participating group; and
(c) is not defunct.
(3) There are 2 types of lone institutions:
(a) a lone institution that is not a legal person (which is
an unincorporated lone institution); and
(b) a lone institution that is a legal person (which is an
incorporated lone institution).
(4) A participating unincorporated lone institution is a
participating institution that is an unincorporated lone
institution.
(5) A participating incorporated lone institution is a
participating institution that is an incorporated lone
institution.
Subdivision B—Representatives for participating lone
institutions
125 Representatives for participating lone institutions
(1) A participating incorporated lone institution may have a
representative for the institution. However, a
participating unincorporated lone institution must have a
representative for the institution.
(2) The representative for a participating unincorporated
lone institution is the person in relation to whom a
declaration is in force under section 126.
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(3) The representative for a participating incorporated lone
institution is the person in relation to whom a declaration
is in force under subsection 127(1).
(4) A participating lone institution may have only one
representative for the institution.
(5) However, a person may be the representative for more
than one participating lone institution.
126 Becoming the representative for an unincorporated lone
institution
If an unincorporated lone institution is declared to be a
participating institution under subsection 115(2), then the
Minister must, by notifiable instrument, make a
declaration that the person who agreed to be the
representative for the institution (as referred to in
paragraph 115(3)(e)) is the representative for the
institution.
127 Becoming the representative for an incorporated lone
institution
(1) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, make a
declaration that a person is the representative for a
participating incorporated lone institution.
(2) The Minister must not make a declaration under
subsection (1) unless the Minister is satisfied that:
(a) the institution has agreed to the person being the
representative for the institution; and
(b) the person has agreed to being the representative
for the institution.
Note: For how the agreement of the institution or person is
given, see section 186.
128 Ceasing to be the representative for a lone institution
(1) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, vary or
revoke a declaration made under section 126 or 127 in
relation to a representative for a lone institution.
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(2) If:
(a) the institution or the representative requests the
Minister in writing to revoke a declaration made
under section 126 or 127; and
(b) any requirements prescribed by the rules in relation
to the person ceasing to be the representative are
satisfied;
then the Minister must, by notifiable instrument, revoke
the declaration made under section 126 or 127 as soon as
practicable.
Note: If a participating unincorporated lone institution does not
have a representative, then the Minister must revoke the
declaration made under subsection 115(2) that the lone
institution is a participating institution (see
subsection 116(5)).
(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the Minister must not
revoke a declaration made under section 126 or 127 in
relation to an institution unless any requirements
prescribed by the rules in relation to the variation or
revocation are satisfied.
(4) If:
(a) the Minister revokes a declaration made under
subsection 115(2) in relation to an unincorporated
lone institution; but
(b) because of subsection 116(7), the institution
continues to be a participating institution in relation
to a person who made an application for redress
before the revocation;
then the representative for the institution continues to be
the representative for the institution in relation to the
person (even if the declaration made under section 126
for the representative has been revoked under this
section).
129 Actions of the representative for a lone institution
(1) Any act that may be done by a participating lone
institution under, or for the purposes of, this Act may be
done by the representative for the institution on behalf of
the institution.
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(2) Any act that is done by the representative for a
participating lone institution on behalf of the institution
has effect, for the purposes of this Act, as if it had been
done by the institution.
130 Giving notices to the representative for a lone
institution
(1) Any notice that the Operator is required or authorised by
this Act to give to a participating lone institution must be
given by the Operator to the representative for the
institution.
(2) A notice given under subsection (1) must, in every
respect, be in the same form, and in the same terms, as if
it were being given to the institution.
131 Joint and several liability of the representative for an
unincorporated lone institution for funding
contribution
If a participating unincorporated lone institution is liable
to pay funding contribution for a quarter, then the
institution and the representative for the institution are
jointly and severally liable to pay the funding
contribution for the quarter.
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Part 5-2—Groups of institutions
participating in the scheme
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
132 Simplified outline of this Part
Two or more participating institutions may form a
participating group for the purposes of the scheme. There
are 2 main features of an institution being a member of a
participating group.
The first is that the members of the group will be
associates of each other. Some provisions of this Act
apply in a special way for associates. For example, if a
person accepts an offer of redress, then the person
releases the participating institutions determined by the
Operator to be responsible for the abuse (and their
officials), as well as all of the associates of that institution
(and their officials).
The second is that all participating groups must have a
representative for the group. The representative may act
on behalf of each member of the group (for example,
communicate with the Operator). However, the
representative will not assume any obligations or
liabilities of the members, except for the liability of a
member to pay funding contribution.
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Division 2—Participating groups
133 Participating groups
(1) Two or more participating institutions may form a
participating group for the purposes of the scheme.
(2) A participating group is a group of participating
institutions for which a declaration is force under
subsection 134(1).
(3) A participating institution that is a member of a
participating group is an associate of each other
participating institution in the group.
Note: Particular provisions of this Act apply in a special way for
associates (see sections 42 and 43, which are about
releasing institutions and officials from civil liability for
abuse).
134 Institutions becoming members of a participating group
(1) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, declare that 2
or more participating institutions form a participating
group.
(2) The Minister must not make a declaration under
subsection (1) unless the Minister is satisfied that:
(a) for a group of Commonwealth institutions—the
Commonwealth has agreed to each Commonwealth
institution being a member of the group; and
(b) for a group of State institutions—the participating
State has agreed, in a way provided for in the
State’s referral Act or adoption Act, to each State
institution being a member of the group; and
(c) for a group of Territory institutions—the
participating Territory has agreed to each Territory
institution being a member of the group; and
(d) for a group of non-government institutions:
(i) each institution has agreed to be a member of
the group and to each other institution being a
member of the group; and
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(ii) there is a sufficient connection between each
institution in the group; and
(e) in all cases:
(i) each institution is not a member of another
participating group; and
(ii) there is a representative for the group (see
subsection 136(1)); and
(iii) any other requirements prescribed by the rules
are satisfied.
Note: For how the agreement of the Commonwealth, a
participating Territory, an institution or a person is given,
see section 186.
(3) If:
(a) a State or Territory has agreed to a State institution
or Territory institution being a member of a
participating group; and
(b) the institution is a body corporate;
then the institution is taken to have also agreed to be a
member of the participating group.
135 Institutions ceasing to be members of a participating
group
(1) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, vary or
revoke a declaration made under subsection 134(1).
(2) If:
(a) a State requests the Minister in writing to vary or
revoke a declaration made under subsection 134(1)
in relation to a group of State institutions so that:
(i) the group ceases to be a participating group; or
(ii) a State institution ceases to be a member of the
group; or
(b) a participating Territory requests the Minister in
writing to vary or revoke a declaration made under
subsection 134(1) in relation to a group of Territory
institutions so that:
(i) the group ceases to be a participating group; or
(ii) a Territory institution ceases to be a member
of the group; or
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(c) all of the non-government institutions that are
members of a participating group request the
Minister in writing to revoke a declaration made
under subsection 134(1) in relation to the group so
that it ceases to be a participating group; or
(d) a participating non-government institution that is a
member of a participating group requests the
Minister in writing to vary a declaration made
under subsection 134(1) in relation to the institution
so that it ceases to be a member of the group;
then the Minister must, by notifiable instrument, vary or
revoke the declaration as requested as soon as
practicable.
(3) If a participating group of non-government institutions
ceases to have a representative for the group, then the
Minister must revoke the declaration made under
subsection 134(1) as soon as practicable.
(4) Despite subsections (1), (2) and (3), the Minister must not
vary or revoke a declaration made under
subsection 134(1) in relation to a participating group
unless any requirements prescribed by the rules relating
to the variation or revocation are satisfied.
(5) If:
(a) the Minister revokes a declaration made under
subsection 115(2) in relation to a participating
institution that is a member of a participating group
immediately before the revocation; but
(b) because of subsection 116(7), the institution
continues to be a participating institution in relation
to a person who made an application for redress
before the revocation;
then each of the associates of the institution continues to
be an associate of the institution in relation to the person,
as if the institution were still a member of the group.
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Division 3—Representatives for participating
groups
136 Representatives for participating groups
(1) A participating group must have a representative for the
group.
(2) The representative for a participating group of
Commonwealth institutions is the Commonwealth.
(3) The representative for a participating group of State
institutions is the participating State.
(4) The representative for a participating group of Territory
institutions is the participating Territory.
(5) The representative for a participating group of
non-government institutions is the person in relation to
whom a declaration is force under subsection 137(1).
(6) A participating group may have only one representative
for the group.
(7) However, a person may be the representative for more
than one participating group.
137 Becoming the representative for a participating group
of non-government institutions
(1) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, declare that a
person is the representative for a participating group of
non-government institutions.
(2) The Minister must not make a declaration under
subsection (1) unless the Minister is satisfied that:
(a) the person has agreed to be the representative for
the group; and
(b) each participating institution that is a member of
the group has agreed to the person being the
representative for the group; and
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(c) there is not a declaration in force under
subsection (1) declaring another person to be the
representative for the group; and
(d) any other requirements prescribed by the rules are
satisfied.
Note: For how the agreement of an institution or a person is
given, see section 186.
138 Ceasing to be the representative for a participating
group of non-government institutions
(1) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, revoke a
declaration made under subsection 137(1) in relation to a
representative for a participating group.
(2) The Minister must, by notifiable instrument, revoke a
declaration made under subsection 137(1) if:
(a) the representative; or
(b) each of the members of the group (other than the
representative, if the representative is a member);
requests the Minister in writing to revoke the declaration.
Note: If a participating group of non-government institutions
does not have a representative, then the Minister must
revoke the declaration made under subsection 134(1) that
the group is a participating group (see subsection 135(3)).
(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the Minister must not
revoke a declaration made under subsection 137(1) unless
any requirements prescribed by the rules in relation to the
revocation are satisfied.
(4) If:
(a) the Minister revokes a declaration made under
subsection 115(2) in relation to a participating
institution that is a member of a participating group
immediately before the revocation; but
(b) because of subsection 116(7), the institution
continues to be a participating institution in relation
to a person who made an application for redress
before the revocation;
then the representative for the participating group
continues to be the representative for the group in
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relation to the person, as if the institution were still a
member of the group.
139 Actions of the representative for a participating group
(1) Any act that a participating institution that is a member of
a participating group may do under, or for the purposes
of, this Act (other than this Division) may be done by the
representative for the group on behalf of that institution.
(2) Any act that is done by the representative for a
participating group on behalf of a participating institution
that is a member of the group has effect, for the purposes
of this Act (other than this Division) as if it had been
done by that institution.
140 Giving notices to the representative for a participating
group
(1) Any notice that the Operator is required or authorised by
this Act to give to a participating institution that is a
member of a participating group must be given by the
Operator to the representative for the group.
(2) A notice given under subsection (1) must, in every
respect, be in the same form, and in the same terms, as if
it were being given to the participating institution
concerned.
141 Joint and several liability of the representative for
funding contribution
If:
(a) a participating institution is liable to pay funding
contribution for a quarter; and
(b) that institution is a member of a participating
group;
then that institution and the representative for the group
are jointly and severally liable to pay the funding
contribution for the quarter.
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Part 5-3—Jurisdictions participating in the
scheme
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
142 Simplified outline of this Part
Only participating jurisdictions are part of the scheme.
While the Commonwealth and participating Territories
are automatically participating jurisdictions, a State is
only a participating jurisdiction (and therefore part of the
scheme) if it makes a law that gives certain legislative
powers to the Commonwealth Parliament for the
purposes of paragraph 51(xxxvii) of the Constitution.
This is known as a State reference. Section 144 deals
with this.
Broadly, if a State is not a participating State, then abuse
of a person that occurred inside that State will not be
within the scope of the scheme. This means that the
person will not be eligible for redress for that abuse.
The Minister may declare that a participating jurisdiction
is a declared provider of counselling and psychological
services under the scheme if the jurisdiction requests the
Minister to do so. If that happens, then that jurisdiction
will provide for the delivery of those services to those
who are entitled to redress and live in that jurisdiction.
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Division 2—Participating jurisdictions
143 What is a participating jurisdiction?
Each of the following jurisdictions is a participating
jurisdiction:
(a) the Commonwealth;
(b) a participating State;
(c) a participating Territory.
144 What is a participating State?
Participating State
(1) A State is a participating State if, for the purposes of
paragraph 51(xxxvii) of the Constitution, the Parliament
of the State:
(a) has, by its referral Act, referred to the
Commonwealth Parliament:
(i) the text reference (see subsection (2)); and
(ii) the amendment reference (see subsection (3));
before the enactment of this Act; or
(b) has, by its adoption Act:
(i) adopted the relevant version of this Act; and
(ii) referred to the Commonwealth Parliament the
amendment reference;
after the enactment of this Act.
Text reference
(2) Text reference means the matters to which the initial
referred provisions relate, to the extent of making laws
with respect to those matters by including the initial
referred provisions in the original version of this Act.
Amendment reference
(3) Amendment reference means the referred national
redress scheme matters (as defined in section 145), to the
extent of making laws with respect to those matters by
making express amendments of this Act.
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Certain things do not affect participating State’s status
(4) A State is a participating State even if the State’s referral
Act or adoption Act provides that:
(a) the reference to the Commonwealth Parliament of
the text reference or the amendment reference is to
terminate in particular circumstances; or
(b) the adoption of the relevant version of this Act is to
terminate in particular circumstances; or
(c) the reference to the Commonwealth Parliament of
the text reference or the amendment reference has
effect only:
(i) if and to the extent that the matter is not
included in the legislative powers of the
Commonwealth Parliament (otherwise than by
a reference for the purposes of
paragraph 51(xxxvii) of the Constitution); or
(ii) if and to the extent that the matter is included
in the legislative powers of the Parliament of
the State.
Timeframe for becoming a participating State
(5) A State is not a participating State if it has not become a
participating State before the second anniversary of the
scheme start day or a later day prescribed by the rules.
When a State ceases to be a participating State
(6) A State ceases to be a participating State if:
(a) in the case where the Parliament of the State has
referred to the Commonwealth Parliament the text
reference—that reference terminates; or
(b) in the case where the Parliament of the State has
adopted the relevant version of this Act—that
adoption terminates.
(7) A State ceases to be a participating State if:
(a) the State’s amendment reference terminates; and
(b) subsection (8) does not apply to the termination.
(8) A State does not cease to be a participating State because
of the termination of its amendment reference if:
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(a) the termination is effected by the Governor of that
State fixing a day by Proclamation as the day on
which the reference terminates; and
(b) the day fixed is no earlier than the first day after the
end of the period of 6 months beginning on the day
on which the Proclamation is published; and
(c) that State’s amendment reference, and the
amendment reference of every other participating
State, terminates on the same day.
Definitions
(9) In this Act:
adoption Act, of a State, means the Act of the State that
adopts the relevant version of this Act and refers the
amendment reference to the Commonwealth Parliament.
express amendment of this Act means the direct
amendment of the text of this Act (whether by the
insertion, omission, repeal, substitution or relocation of
words or matter) by another Commonwealth Act or by an
instrument under a Commonwealth Act, but does not
include the enactment by a Commonwealth Act of a
provision that has, or will have, substantive effect
otherwise than as part of the text of this Act.
initial referred provisions means the original version of
this Act, to the extent to which it deals with matters that
are included in the legislative powers of the Parliament of
the State.
original version of this Act means this Act as originally
enacted.
referral Act, of a State, means the Act of the State that
refers the text reference and the amendment reference to
the Commonwealth Parliament.
relevant version of this Act, in relation to a State’s
adoption Act, means the original version of this Act and
as subsequently amended by amendments enacted at any
time before the enactment of the State’s adoption Act.
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145 The referred national redress scheme matters
(1) The referred national redress scheme matters are the
matters relating to a redress scheme for institutional child
sexual abuse.
(2) However, the following matters are not referred national
redress scheme matters:
(a) the matter of making a law to the extent that that
law would operate to prevent or limit the power to
establish, or to prevent or limit the operation of, any
State redress mechanism, whether or not the
mechanism deals with the same or similar subject
matters as those dealt with in any aspect of the
scheme;
(b) the matter of making a law to the extent that that
law would substantively remove or override a
provision of this Act that requires the agreement of
the State.
(3) Paragraph (2)(a) does not cover any of the following
matters (if they would otherwise be covered by
subsection (1)):
(a) any matter to which the initial referred provisions
relate;
(b) the matter of the release or discharge, in connection
with the operation of the scheme, of relevant civil
liability of institutions or officials;
(c) the matter of the disclosure or use of evidence or
other information provided or obtained in
connection with the operation of the scheme;
(d) the matter of the making, enforcement or protection
(for example, protection against the operation of
orders in the nature of garnishee orders) of
payments in connection with the operation of the
scheme.
(4) A State redress mechanism is:
(a) a scheme, program or arrangement (temporary or
otherwise) established (before or after the
commencement of the State’s referral Act or
adoption Act) by:
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(i) the Parliament or government of the State; or
(ii) an institution (whether governmental or
non-governmental) or other entity;
for or in respect of persons who have suffered
institutional child sexual abuse in the State
(whether applying only to any such persons or
applying to any class of victims of crime) and any
associated matters; or
(b) the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal to grant
compensation or support for or in respect of victims
of crime (including crime relating to institutional
child sexual abuse) and any associated matters.
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Division 3—Participating jurisdictions providing
counselling and psychological services
under the scheme
146 Participating jurisdictions that are declared providers
(1) A participating jurisdiction may notify the Minister, in
writing, that:
(a) arrangements are in place in the jurisdiction for the
delivery of counselling and psychological services
in accordance with the National Service Standards;
and
(b) the jurisdiction requests to become a declared
provider of counselling and psychological services
under the scheme.
(2) A participating jurisdiction is a declared provider of
counselling and psychological services under the scheme
if a declaration to that effect is in force under
subsection 147(1).
147 Ministerial declarations about declared providers
(1) If the Minister receives a notice under subsection 146(1)
from a participating jurisdiction, then the Minister must,
by notifiable instrument, declare that the jurisdiction is a
declared provider of counselling and psychological
services under the scheme.
(2) If the participating jurisdiction requests the Minister, in
writing, to revoke a declaration made under
subsection (1), then the Minister must, by notifiable
instrument, revoke the declaration as soon as practicable.
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Chapter 6—Financial matters
Part 6-1—Liability for funding
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
148 Simplified outline of this Part
The Commonwealth is liable to bear the initial costs of
paying redress payments and the counselling and
psychological component of redress under the scheme, as
well as the administration of the scheme. However,
participating institutions are liable to pay funding
contribution to reimburse the Commonwealth for their
share of those costs.
Funding contribution is worked out on a quarterly basis
and consists of 2 elements:
(a) the redress element (which covers the total
amount of the institution’s share of the costs of
redress payments and the counselling and
psychological component of redress in the
quarter); and
(b) the scheme administration element (which
covers the total amount of the institution’s
contribution to the costs of the administration
of the scheme in the quarter).
The Operator determines the amount of funding
contribution that a participating institution is required to
pay for the quarter, and notifies the institution of the
amount and the due date for payment.
The Commonwealth is liable to pay counselling and
psychological services contribution to a participating
jurisdiction that is a declared provider of counselling and
psychological services under the scheme. The
Commonwealth must pay the contribution to the
jurisdiction for a quarter if the jurisdiction became liable
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in that quarter to provide for the delivery of counselling
and psychological services to a person.
A participating government institution may be the funder
of last resort for a defunct institution. In that case, the
government institution will be liable to pay the defunct
institution’s (hypothetical) share of the costs of providing
redress to the person, which will increase the amount of
funding contribution the government institution will be
liable to pay. (For funders of last resort, see Part 6-2.)
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Division 2—Liability of participating institutions
for funding contribution
149 Liability for funding contribution
(1) If, in a quarter, a person becomes entitled to redress for
abuse of the person, then each participating institution
that is determined by the Operator under
paragraph 29(2)(b) to be responsible for the abuse is
liable to pay funding contribution for that quarter.
Note 1: If the responsible institution is a defunct institution, its
representative will be liable to pay the funding
contribution (see section 123).
Note 2: If the responsible institution is an unincorporated lone
institution, its representative will be jointly and severally
liable with the institution to pay the funding contribution
(see section 131).
Note 3: If the responsible institution is a member of a participating
group, the representative for the group will be jointly and
severally liable with the institution to pay the funding
contribution (see section 141).
(2) A quarter is a period of 3 months beginning on 1 July,
1 October, 1 January or 1 April.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a Commonwealth
institution.
(4) The rules may provide for the application of this Part to a
Commonwealth institution.
150 Funding contribution
Funding contribution for a participating institution for a
quarter consists of:
(a) the redress element for the institution for the
quarter; and
(b) the scheme administration element for the
institution for the quarter.
Note: If the Operator determines under paragraph 29(2)(i) that a
participating government institution is the funder of last
resort for a defunct institution in relation to abuse of a
person, the government institution will be liable for the
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defunct institution’s (hypothetical) share of the costs of
providing redress to the person (see section 165).
151 Redress element
The redress element of funding contribution for a
participating institution for a quarter is the amount equal
to the sum of the following amounts for each person who
is entitled to redress:
(a) the amount of the institution’s share of the costs of
the redress payment to the person in the quarter;
(b) the amount of the institution’s share of the costs of
the counselling and psychological component of
redress for the person in the quarter.
Note: The Operator determines the amount of an institution’s
share of the costs of the redress payment under
paragraph 29(2)(c) and the amount of an institution’s share
of the costs of the counselling and psychological
component of redress for the person under
paragraph 29(2)(d).
152 Scheme administration element
(1) The scheme administration element of funding
contribution for a participating institution for a quarter is
the amount equal to the institution’s contribution to the
costs of the administration of the scheme for the quarter.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Operator must, in
accordance with any requirements prescribed by the
rules, determine the institution’s contribution to the costs
of the administration of the scheme for the quarter.
153 When funding contribution is due for payment
Funding contribution that is payable by a participating
institution is due and payable on a business day that is:
(a) specified in a notice that the Operator gives to the
participating institution; and
(b) not earlier than 30 days after the date of the notice.
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154 Late payment penalty
(1) If any funding contribution payable by a participating
institution remains unpaid at the start of a calendar month
after the funding contribution became due for payment,
the institution is liable to pay, for that calendar month, a
penalty worked out using the following formula:
0.1 Amount of funding contribution
unpaid at the start of the calendar month 12
×
(2) Late payment penalty for a calendar month is due and
payable at the end of the calendar month.
(3) However, the Operator may, by written notice given to
the participating institution before, on or after the day on
which late payment penalty would be due and payable
apart from this subsection, specify a later day as the day
on which the late payment penalty is due and payable.
The notice has effect, and is taken always to have had
effect, according to its terms.
155 Payment of funding contribution and late payment
penalty
Each of the following are payable to the Operator on
behalf of the Commonwealth:
(a) funding contribution;
(b) late payment penalty.
156 Waiver of funding contribution and late payment
penalty
(1) The Operator may, on behalf of the Commonwealth,
waive the payment of all or part of funding contribution
or late payment penalty payable by a participating
institution, if the Operator is satisfied that there are
exceptional circumstances justifying the waiver.
(2) The Operator may do so on the Operator’s own initiative
or on written application by a person in the approved
form.
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157 Review of decision about waiving funding contribution
or penalty
(1) A participating institution that is affected by a decision of
the Operator under section 156 about waiving the
payment of all or part of funding contribution or late
payment penalty may, if dissatisfied with the decision,
request the Operator to reconsider the decision.
(2) The request must:
(a) be made by notice given to the Operator in the
approved form within:
(i) the period of 21 days after the day of the
notice of the decision; or
(ii) any further period that the Operator allows;
and
(b) set out the reasons for making the request.
(3) After receiving the request, the Operator must review the
decision or cause the decision to be reviewed by a
person:
(a) to whom the Operator’s power under this section is
delegated; and
(b) who was not involved in the making of the
decision.
(4) Within 30 business days after receiving the request or
such longer period as the Operator determines in writing
(the review period), the person reviewing the decision
must:
(a) reconsider the decision; and
(b) confirm, revoke or vary the decision, as the person
thinks fit.
(5) If the person reviewing the decision does not confirm,
revoke or vary the decision within the review period, he
or she is taken to have confirmed the decision under
subsection (4) immediately after the end of that period.
(6) The person reviewing the decision must give a notice in
writing to the participating institution that made the
request that sets out the result of the reconsideration of
the decision and gives the reasons for that result.
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158 Liability of corporate State or Territory institutions for
funding contribution
If:
(a) a State institution or a Territory institution is a body
corporate; and
(b) the institution is taken to have agreed to participate
in the scheme (see subsection 115(5)); and
(c) the imposition of a liability on the institution to pay
funding contribution under section 149 would
impermissibly:
(i) impose taxation on the institution; or
(ii) acquire property of the institution otherwise
than on just terms;
then section 149 is taken to impose the liability on the
relevant State or Territory instead.
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Division 3—Liability of the Commonwealth for
counselling and psychological services
contribution
159 Liability for counselling and psychological services
contribution
The Commonwealth is liable to pay counselling and
psychological services contribution to a participating
jurisdiction for a quarter if:
(a) the jurisdiction is a declared provider of counselling
and psychological services under the scheme; and
(b) in that quarter the jurisdiction becomes required
under paragraph 51(2)(b) to provide for the delivery
of those services to a person.
160 Counselling and psychological services contribution
Counselling and psychological services contribution for
a participating jurisdiction for a quarter is the amount
equal to the sum of the amounts of the counselling and
psychological component of redress for each person in
relation to whom the jurisdiction becomes required under
paragraph 51(2)(b) in the quarter to provide for the
delivery of counselling and psychological services.
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Division 4—Appropriation
161 Appropriation
The Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated to the
extent necessary for the purposes of the payment or
discharge of the costs incurred by the Commonwealth in
making the following payments:
(a) redress payments;
(b) counselling and psychological services payments;
(c) counselling and psychological services
contribution.
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Part 6-2—Funders of last resort
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
162 Simplified outline of this Part
In some cases, a participating government institution will
be the funder of last resort for a defunct institution that is
not participating in the scheme. In those cases, the
government institution will be liable to pay the defunct
institution’s share of the costs of providing redress to a
person, in addition to the government institution’s
liability to pay its own share of those costs.
Before a government institution can become the funder of
last resort for a defunct institution in relation to abuse of
a person, the Operator must first make a determination to
that effect (see paragraph 29(2)(i)). The Operator can
only make that determination if:
(a) the Operator has determined that the
government institution is equally responsible
with the defunct institution for the abuse; and
(b) the defunct institution is listed for the
jurisdiction that the government institution
belongs to.
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Division 2—Funders of last resort
163 Funders of last resort
A participating government institution is the funder of
last resort for a defunct institution in relation to abuse of
a person if a determination of the Operator to that effect
is in force under paragraph 29(2)(i).
Note: The Operator can only make that determination if the
participating government institution and the defunct
institution are equally responsible for the abuse and the
defunct institution is listed for the jurisdiction that the
government institution belongs to.
164 Listing defunct institutions
(1) A defunct institution is listed for a participating
jurisdiction if:
(a) the defunct institution:
(i) is a non-government institution; and
(ii) is not a participating institution; and
(b) a declaration that the defunct institution is listed for
the jurisdiction is in force under subsection (2).
(2) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, declare that a
defunct institution is listed for one or more participating
jurisdictions.
Note: A defunct institution may be identified by name, by
inclusion in a particular class, or in any other way.
(3) The Minister must not make a declaration under
subsection (2) listing a defunct institution for the
Commonwealth or a participating Territory unless the
Minister is satisfied that the relevant jurisdiction has
agreed, in the way (if any) prescribed by the rules, to the
institution being listed for the jurisdiction.
(4) The Minister must not make a declaration under
subsection (2) listing a defunct institution for a
participating State unless the Minister is satisfied that the
State has agreed, in a way provided for in the State’s
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referral Act or adoption Act, to the institution being listed
for the State.
(5) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, vary or
revoke a declaration made under subsection (2).
(6) If:
(a) a declaration is made under subsection (2) that a
defunct institution is listed for the Commonwealth
or a participating Territory; and
(b) the jurisdiction withdraws its agreement, in the way
(if any) prescribed by the rules, to the defunct
institution being listed for the jurisdiction;
then, as soon as is practicable, the Minister must, by
notifiable instrument, vary or revoke the declaration so
that the defunct institution is no longer listed for the
jurisdiction.
(7) If:
(a) a declaration is made under subsection (2) that a
defunct institution is listed for a participating State;
and
(b) the State withdraws its agreement, in a way
provided for in the State’s referral Act or adoption
Act, to the defunct institution being listed for the
State;
then, as soon as is practicable, the Minister must, by
notifiable instrument, vary or revoke the declaration so
that the defunct institution is no longer listed for the
State.
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Division 3—Special rules for funder of last resort
cases
165 Special rules for funder of last resort cases
Effect of government institution being funder of last
resort
(1) If the Operator determines under paragraph 29(2)(i) that:
(a) a participating government institution is equally
responsible with a defunct institution for abuse of a
person; and
(b) the government institution is the funder of last
resort for the defunct institution in relation to the
abuse;
then the government institution is liable, in accordance
with this section, for what the defunct institution would
have been liable to pay in relation to providing redress to
the person, had the defunct institution been a
participating institution.
Redress payment
(2) When determining under paragraph 29(2)(c) the amount
of the redress payment for the person and the amount of
the government institution’s share of the costs of that
payment, the Operator must:
(a) apply subsection 30(2) as if the defunct institution
were also a responsible institution in relation to the
abuse; and
(b) add the amount worked out under subsection 30(2)
(as applying because of paragraph (a) of this
subsection) as the amount of the defunct
institution’s share of the costs of the redress
payment to what, apart from this section, would
have been the government institution’s share of the
costs of the redress payment.
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Counselling and psychological component
(3) When determining under paragraph 29(2)(d) the amount
of the government institution’s share of the costs of the
counselling and psychological component of redress for
the person, the Operator must:
(a) determine, in accordance with section 31, the
amount of the defunct institution’s share of those
costs as if the defunct institution were also a
responsible institution; and
(b) add that amount to what, apart from this section,
would have been the amount of the government
institution’s share of those costs.
Scheme administration costs
(4) When determining under subsection 152(2) the
government institution’s contribution to the costs of the
administration of the scheme for a quarter, the Operator
must:
(a) determine the amount of the defunct institution’s
contribution to those costs as if the defunct
institution were a participating institution; and
(b) add that amount to what, apart from this section,
would have been the amount of the government
institution’s contribution to those costs.
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Part 6-3—Debt recovery
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
166 Simplified outline of this Part
Certain amounts paid under the scheme may become a
debt due to the Commonwealth. For example, if a redress
payment is paid to the wrong person, that payment is a
debt due to the Commonwealth and may be recovered
under this Part.
This Part also allows for funding contribution or late
payment penalty that is payable by an institution or a
person to be recoverable as a debt due to the
Commonwealth.
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Division 2—Debt recovery
167 Recovery of amounts (other than funding contribution
and late payment penalty)
(1) If an amount has been paid to a person or an institution
(the recipient) under this Act, the amount is a debt due to
the Commonwealth only to the extent expressly provided
for by this section.
(2) If the amount paid to the recipient was not payable
because:
(a) the amount was paid to the wrong person or
institution; or
(b) the amount exceeds the amount payable to the
recipient;
then the amount paid, or the excess, is a debt due to the
Commonwealth by the recipient.
(3) If the amount paid to the recipient was paid wholly or
partly because of a false or misleading statement, or a
misrepresentation, by the recipient or another person,
then an amount equal to so much of the amount paid as is
attributable to the false or misleading statement, or the
misrepresentation, is a debt due to the Commonwealth by
the recipient.
(4) If:
(a) the recipient was required under section 181 to
notify the Operator about a matter; and
(b) the recipient did not comply with the requirement;
and
(c) had the Operator been notified as required, the
amount that was paid to the recipient would not
have been payable;
then an amount equal to so much of the amount paid as is
attributable to the failure to comply with the requirement
is a debt due to the Commonwealth by the recipient.
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(5) A debt due by the recipient under this section in relation
to an amount arises at the time the amount was paid to
the recipient.
168 Recovery of funding contribution and late payment
penalty
The following amounts may be recovered by the
Commonwealth from an institution or a person as debts
due to the Commonwealth:
(a) funding contribution that is due and payable by the
institution or person;
(b) late payment penalty that is due and payable by the
institution or person.
Note: For cases where a person may be liable to pay funding
contribution, see sections 123, 131 and 141.
169 Legal proceedings to recover debt
A debt due to the Commonwealth under this Part is
recoverable by the Commonwealth in a court of
competent jurisdiction.
170 Arrangement for payment of debt
(1) The Operator may enter into an arrangement with a
person or an institution under which the person or
institution is to pay a debt, owed by the person or
institution to the Commonwealth under this Part, or the
outstanding amount of such a debt, in a way set out in the
arrangement.
(2) An arrangement entered into under subsection (1) has
effect, or is taken to have had effect, on and after the day
specified in the arrangement as the day the arrangement
commences (whether that day is the day the arrangement
is entered into or an earlier or later day).
(3) If an arrangement entered into under subsection (1) does
not specify a day as mentioned in subsection (2), it has
effect on and after the day on which it is entered into.
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(4) The Operator may terminate or alter an arrangement
entered into under subsection (1):
(a) at the request of the person or institution; or
(b) after giving 28 days’ notice to the person or
institution of the proposed termination or alteration;
or
(c) without notice, if the Operator is satisfied that the
person or institution has failed to disclose material
information about the person’s or institution’s true
capacity to repay the debt.
171 Recovery of amounts from financial institutions
Payment into wrong account
(1) This section applies if:
(a) an amount is paid under this Act to a financial
institution for the credit of an account kept with the
financial institution; and
(b) the Operator is satisfied that the payment was
intended to be made to someone who was not the
person or one of the persons in whose name or
names the account was kept.
Notice to financial institution requiring repayment
(2) The Operator may give a written notice to the financial
institution setting out the relevant matters referred to in
paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) and requiring the financial
institution to pay to the Commonwealth, within a
reasonable period stated in the notice, the lesser of the
following amounts:
(a) the amount of the payment, as stated in the notice;
(b) the amount standing to the credit of the account
when the notice is given to the financial institution.
Offence for contravening notice
(3) A financial institution must comply with a notice given to
it under subsection (2).
Penalty: 300 penalty units.
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(4) It is a defence to a prosecution of a financial institution
for failing to comply with a notice given to it under
subsection (2) if the financial institution proves that it
was incapable of complying with the notice.
Note: A defendant bears a legal burden in relation to the matter
in this subsection (see section 13.4 of the Criminal Code).
Amount recovered reduces debt
(5) Any amount recovered by the Commonwealth from a
financial institution under this section reduces the amount
of a debt referred to in subsection 167(1) (as it relates to
paragraph 167(2)(a)).
172 Repayment of recovered amount to participating
institutions
If:
(a) the Commonwealth recovers an amount under this
Part (other than paragraph 167(2)(a)); and
(b) all or part of the amount relates to either or both of
the following payments:
(i) a redress payment;
(ii) a counselling and psychological services
payment; and
(c) a participating institution has paid funding
contribution in relation to that payment;
then the Commonwealth must repay the institution so
much of that funding contribution as the Operator
considers relates to the amount recovered.
Note: For the appropriation for the refund, see section 77 of the
Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act
2013.
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Chapter 7—Other matters
Part 7-1—Application of this Act
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
173 Simplified outline of this Part
This Act can only give an entitlement to redress if the
Commonwealth has legislative power to provide that
redress. This Part sets out the constitutional basis for
providing redress and also deals with other aspects of the
application of this Act.
The main constitutional basis for redress is based on the
place where the abuse occurred, which broadly is as
follows:
• If the abuse occurred inside a State that has given a
reference to the Commonwealth or made an
adoption for the purposes of paragraph 51(xxxvii) of
the Constitution (i.e. a participating State), then the
reference or adoption by the State provides the
constitutional basis for the redress.
• If the abuse occurred inside a Territory (such as the
Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory
or an external Territory), then section 122 of the
Constitution provides the constitutional basis for the
redress.
• If the abuse occurred outside Australia, then
paragraph 51(xxix) of the Constitution provides the
constitutional basis for the redress.
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Division 2—Application of this Act
174 Constitutional basis for this Act
What this section is about
(1) This section sets out the constitutional basis of this Act.
Application in a participating State
(2) The application of this Act in relation to sexual abuse,
and any related non-sexual abuse, of a person that
occurred inside a participating State is based on:
(a) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth
Parliament has under the Constitution (other than
paragraph 51(xxxvii)); and
(b) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth
Parliament has because of a reference or an
adoption by the Parliaments of the participating
States for the purposes of paragraph 51(xxxvii) of
the Constitution.
Application in a non-participating State
(3) The application of this Act in relation to sexual abuse,
and any related non-sexual abuse, of a person that
occurred inside a non-participating State is based on:
(a) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth
Parliament has under section 51 (other than
paragraph 51(xxxvii)) and section 122 of the
Constitution; and
(b) the other legislative powers that the
Commonwealth Parliament has under the
Constitution.
Application in a Territory
(4) The application of this Act in relation to sexual abuse,
and any related non-sexual abuse, of a person that
occurred inside a Territory is based on:
(a) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth
Parliament has under section 122 of the
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Constitution to make laws for the government of a
Territory; and
(b) the other legislative powers that the
Commonwealth Parliament has under the
Constitution.
Despite section 2H of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901,
this Act as applying in the Territory is a law of the
Commonwealth.
Application outside Australia
(5) The application of this Act in relation to sexual abuse,
and any related non-sexual abuse, of a person that
occurred outside Australia is based on:
(a) the legislative power the Commonwealth
Parliament has under paragraph 51(xxix) of the
Constitution; and
(b) the legislative powers that the Commonwealth
Parliament has under section 122 of the
Constitution to make laws for the government of a
Territory; and
(c) the other legislative powers that the
Commonwealth Parliament has under the
Constitution.
175 Concurrent operation with State and Territory laws
(1) This Act does not exclude or limit the operation of a law
of a State or Territory to the extent that the law is capable
of operating concurrently with this Act.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), this Act does not exclude
or limit the concurrent operation of a law of a State or
Territory merely because that law provides for redress
(however described) to be provided to a person for abuse
suffered by the person.
176 Extraterritorial application and extension to external
Territories
(1) This Act applies both within and outside Australia.
(2) This Act extends to every external Territory.
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177 Crown to be bound
This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities.
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Part 7-2—The National Redress Scheme
Rules
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
178 Simplified outline of this Part
The Minister may make rules for the purposes of the
scheme. They are subordinate legislation and may deal
with matters that this Act requires or permits the rules to
deal with, or that are necessary or convenient for giving
effect to this Act.
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Division 2—The National Redress Scheme Rules
179 The National Redress Scheme Rules
(1) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, make rules
prescribing matters:
(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed
by the rules; or
(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for
carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
(2) The rules may provide for the following:
(a) matters relating to an institution ceasing to be a
participating institution;
(b) matters relating to a participating group ceasing to
be a participating group;
(c) matters relating to a participating State ceasing to
be a participating State;
(d) matters relating to a person becoming, being or
ceasing to be a representative for a defunct
institution, a lone institution or a participating
group;
(e) overriding, for the purposes of the scheme, any
provisions of settlement agreements or deeds that:
(i) relate to confidentiality; or
(ii) would inhibit access to, or the operation of,
the scheme.
(3) Despite section 14 of the Legislation Act 2003, the rules
may apply, adopt or incorporate any matter contained in
the assessment framework as in force or existing from
time to time.
(4) The provisions of this Act that provide for the rules to
deal with matters do not limit each other.
(5) To avoid doubt, the rules may not do the following:
(a) create an offence or civil penalty;
(b) provide powers of:
(i) arrest or detention; or
(ii) entry, search or seizure;
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(c) impose a tax;
(d) set an amount to be appropriated from the
Consolidated Revenue Fund under an appropriation
in this Act;
(e) directly amend the text of this Act.
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Part 7-3—Other matters
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
180 Simplified outline of this Part
A person who applies for redress under the scheme may
be required or permitted to notify the Operator of certain
matters (e.g. that the person is sentenced to imprisonment
for 5 years or longer for an offence). An institution may
also be required or permitted to notify the Operator about
a matter (see section 181).
The Minister and the Operator may delegate their powers
and functions to certain officers of the scheme. However,
the Minister cannot delegate his or her powers and
functions to make the rules, and the Operator can only
delegate his or her powers and functions under
sections 29 and 75 (which are about determinations
relating to redress applications) to an independent
decision-maker.
The Operator may engage a person to be an independent
decision-maker to make determinations relating to
redress applications.
The Operator must prepare and give an annual report on
the operation of the scheme and must include particular
information in that report.
The Minister must cause 2 reviews of the scheme to be
conducted—one starting on the second anniversary of the
scheme start day and the other starting on the eighth
anniversary of that day. The rules can prescribe a later
date to start those reviews.
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The scheme ceases on the scheme sunset day (which
ordinarily will be the tenth anniversary of the scheme
start day).
This Part also deals with other miscellaneous matters
(such as approved forms).
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Division 2—Giving notices for the purposes of the
scheme
181 Persons or institutions giving notices to the Operator
(1) If:
(a) a person makes an application for redress under the
scheme; and
(b) after making the application, the person is
sentenced to imprisonment for 5 years or longer for
an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, a
State, a Territory or a foreign country;
then the person must notify the Operator of that fact in
accordance with any requirements prescribed by the
rules.
(2) The rules may prescribe:
(a) circumstances for when a person or a participating
institution must or may notify the Operator of a
matter; and
(b) requirements relating to the giving of the notice.
182 Operator giving notices to persons or institutions
(1) The rules may require or permit the Operator to give a
notice to a person or an institution about a matter relating
to the operation of this Act.
(2) If this Act requires or permits the Operator to give a
notice to a person or institution, the Operator may give
the notice in any way that the Operator considers
appropriate.
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Division 3—Delegation
183 Delegation by the Minister
(1) The Minister may, in writing, delegate all or any of the
Minister’s powers or functions under this Act (other than
section 179 or 185) to:
(a) the Operator; or
(b) a person who holds or performs the duties of an
SES Band 3 position, or an equivalent position, in
the Department.
(2) In exercising a power or performing a function under a
delegation under subsection (1), the delegate must
comply with any directions of the Minister.
184 Delegation by the Operator
Powers and functions—general
(1) The Operator may, in writing, delegate all or any of the
Operator’s powers or functions under this Act (other than
sections 29, 75 and 190) to an officer of the scheme.
(2) In exercising a power or performing a function under a
delegation under subsection (1), the delegate must
comply with any directions of the Operator.
Powers and functions—redress determinations
(3) The Operator may, in writing, delegate the Operator’s
powers and functions under section 29 or 75 (which are
about determinations relating to redress applications) to
an independent decision-maker.
(4) In exercising a power or performing a function under a
delegation under subsection (3), the delegate is not
required to comply with any directions of the Operator.
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Division 4—Independent decision-makers
185 Engaging persons to be independent decision-makers
(1) The Operator may, on behalf of the Commonwealth and
with the approval of the Minister, engage a person, under
written agreement, to assist in the performance of the
functions of the Operator in relation to the making of
determinations under section 29 or 75 on applications for
redress.
(2) Before giving an approval under subsection (1), the
Minister must consult the appropriate Ministers from the
participating States and participating Territories in
accordance with the National Redress Scheme
Agreement.
(3) A person engaged under subsection (1) is an independent
decision-maker.
(4) Subdivision A of Division 3 of Part 2-2 of the Public
Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
(which deals with general duties of officials), and any
rules made under that Act for the purposes of that
Subdivision, apply to an independent decision-maker in
the same way as they apply to an official (within the
meaning of that Act).
Note: The duties of officials under the Public Governance,
Performance and Accountability Act 2013 include: the
duty of care and diligence; the duty to act honestly, in
good faith and for a proper purpose; the duties relating to
the use of information and position; and the duty to
disclose interests.
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Division 5—Miscellaneous
186 Giving agreement
A reference in this Act to the Commonwealth, a
participating Territory, an institution or a person agreeing
to a matter is a reference to the body or person giving
agreement in the way (if any) prescribed by the rules.
Note: For example, paragraph 115(3)(c) provides that the
Minister must not make a declaration that a
non-government institution is a participating institution
unless the institution has agreed to participate in the
scheme. Under this section, the way the institution gives
its agreement must be the way prescribed by the rules (if
the rules prescribe a way).
187 Annual report on operation of the scheme
(1) As soon as practicable after the end of each financial
year, the Operator must prepare and give an annual report
to the Minister, for presentation to the Parliament, on the
operation of the scheme during the year.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the annual report must:
(a) include information about any matter prescribed by
the rules; and
(b) comply with any requirements prescribed by the
rules.
188 Approved forms
The Operator may, in writing, approve one or more forms
for the purposes of a provision of this Act that provides
for something to be done in an approved form.
189 Determinations of the Operator to be in writing
(1) A determination by the Operator under this Act must be
in writing.
(2) A determination by the Operator under this Act is not a
legislative instrument.
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190 Civil penalty provisions
Enforceable civil penalty provisions
(1) Each civil penalty provision of this Act is enforceable
under Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers Act.
Note: Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers Act allows a civil penalty
provision to be enforced by obtaining an order for a person
to pay a pecuniary penalty for the contravention of the
provision.
Authorised applicant
(2) For the purposes of Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers Act,
each of the following persons is an authorised applicant
in relation to the civil penalty provisions of this Act:
(a) the Operator;
(b) an SES employee, or an acting SES employee, in
the Department or the Human Services Department.
Relevant court
(3) For the purposes of Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers Act,
each of the following courts is a relevant court in relation
to the civil penalty provisions of this Act:
(a) the Federal Court of Australia;
(b) the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
External Territories
(4) Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers Act, as that Part applies
in relation to the civil penalty provisions of this Act,
extends to every external Territory.
The Crown
(5) Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers Act, as that Part applies
in relation to the civil penalty provisions of this Act, does
not make the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, a
State or a Territory liable to a pecuniary penalty.
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191 Compensation for acquisition of property
(1) If the operation of this Act would result in an acquisition
of property (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xxxi) of
the Constitution) from a person otherwise than on just
terms (within the meaning of that paragraph), the
Commonwealth is liable to pay a reasonable amount of
compensation to the person.
(2) If the Commonwealth and the person do not agree on the
amount of the compensation, the person may institute
proceedings in:
(a) the Federal Court of Australia; or
(b) the Supreme Court of a State or participating
Territory;
for the recovery from the Commonwealth of such
reasonable amount of compensation as the court
determines.
192 Review of the scheme
Second anniversary review
(1) The Minister must cause a review of the operation of the
scheme to be commenced as soon as possible after:
(a) the second anniversary of the scheme start day; or
(b) if, before the second anniversary, the rules
prescribe a day that is after the second
anniversary—that day.
(2) The second anniversary review must consider the
following matters:
(a) the extent to which the States, participating
Territories and non-government institutions have
opted into the scheme, including key facilitators
and barriers to opting in;
(b) the extent to which survivors who are eligible for
redress under the scheme have applied for redress;
(c) the extent to which redress has been provided to
survivors who are entitled to redress under the
scheme;
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(d) the application, assessment and decision-making
process, including user experiences of the process;
(e) redress payments;
(f) access to counselling and psychological services
under the scheme;
(g) the extent to which survivors access direct personal
responses under the scheme, including factors
influencing the uptake and experiences with the
direct personal response process;
(h) the availability of, and access to, support services
under the scheme;
(i) the implications of the scheme’s design for
survivors (including Indigenous and child migrant
survivors, as well as survivors who are still children
or who have a criminal conviction);
(j) the operation of the scheme’s funding arrangements
(including a review of the scheme administration
element of funding contribution);
(k) the operation of the funder of last resort provisions;
(l) the extent to which the scheme has been
implemented as proposed in the National Redress
Scheme Agreement;
(m) the views of key stakeholders on the scheme
(including representatives from survivor groups,
non-government institutions, advocacy groups,
support services provider groups, the Independent
Advisory Council, the Commonwealth, the States
and the Territories);
(n) the impact and effectiveness of section 37 (which is
about the admissibility of certain documents in
evidence in civil proceedings);
(o) the question of whether an institution (the first
institution) should be responsible for abuse that
occurs in connection with another institution
merely because the first institution regulates or
funds the other institution or the other institution’s
activities;
(p) the administration of this Act and the scheme;
(q) any other matter relevant to the operation of this
Act or the scheme.
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Eighth anniversary review
(3) The Minister must cause a review of the operation of the
scheme to be commenced as soon as possible after:
(a) the eighth anniversary of the scheme start day; or
(b) if, before the eighth anniversary, the rules prescribe
a day that is after the eighth anniversary—that day.
(4) The eighth anniversary review must consider the
following matters:
(a) the matters referred to in subsection (2);
(b) the results of any other review or evaluation
conducted in relation to the operation of the
scheme.
193 Sunset of the scheme
(1) Subject to this section, this Act ceases to have effect at
the end of the day (the scheme sunset day) that is:
(a) the tenth anniversary of the scheme start day; or
(b) if, before the tenth anniversary, the rules prescribe a
day that is after the tenth anniversary—that day.
Note: The fact that the Act ceases to have effect does not affect
the operation of section 43 in releasing and discharging an
institution or official from civil liability (see section 7 of
the Acts Interpretation Act 1901).
(2) Despite subsection (1), at any time before the first
anniversary of the scheme sunset day, rules may be made
under section 179 for the purposes of subsections (3) and
(4) of this section.
(3) The rules may prescribe matters of a transitional nature
(including prescribing any saving or application
provisions) relating to this Act ceasing to have effect
under subsection (1).
(4) Without limiting subsection (3), the rules may provide
that certain provisions of this Act:
(a) continue to apply after the scheme sunset day for
the purposes set out in the rules; or
(b) continue to apply after the scheme sunset day in a
modified way for the purposes set out in the rules.
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Those provisions continue to apply, or continue to apply
in the modified way, as set out in the rules.
(5) Subsection 12(2) (retrospective application of legislative
instruments) of the Legislation Act 2003 does not apply
in relation to rules made for the purposes of this section.
(6) All legislative instruments (including the rules) made
under this Act are repealed immediately before the first
anniversary of the scheme sunset day.
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Endnotes
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Endnotes
1 General information
See www.legislation.vic.gov.au for Victorian Bills, Acts and current
authorised versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.
† Minister's second reading speech—
Legislative Assembly: 9 May 2018
Legislative Council: 24 May 2018
The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill for an Act to refer
certain matters relating to the National Redress Scheme for Institutional
Child Sexual Abuse to the Parliament of the Commonwealth for the
purposes of section 51 (xxxvii) of the Constitution of the Commonwealth;
and for other purposes."
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