This month victim-survivors of institutional abuse had an incredible win. They were finally heard. Churches and other organisations will no longer be able to use loopholes to shirk their responsibilities to pay compensation to victims.
It’s complicated, but in short, the Catholic Arch Diocese of Ballarat – which has a notorious history of sexual and other forms of horrific abuse of children – took a victim all the way to the High Court of Australia in 2024 to get out of paying them compensation. Their argument was essentially that while the abuse did happen, priests are not “technically” employees of the church – they’re employees of God. In other words, yes it did happen, but it’s nothing to do with us. The High Court was bound to follow the law as it stood, but invited the Parliament to amend the laws. Rachel Payne MP took up this challenge and introduced a Private Members Bill in the Victorian parliament to effect change. The Government rejected her Bill at the time, but they repurposed it and it was finally enacted yesterday.
This issue is personal to Rachel and also, part of the drive by Legalise Cannabis to uphold principles of social justice for all. We are a party of law reform, but underneath that is a bedrock of justice and compassion. And, as a crossbencher, Rachel is doing the work the major parties sometimes shy away from – including difficult and complex issues like this.
“Through no fault of their own, victim survivors have been denied justice because of a loophole that would never pass the water-cooler test. These people experienced horrendous abuse as children, but their suffering has not been properly acknowledged or recompensed. I have fought for them because I want them to know they are not alone.”
Rachel Payne MP
This win meant so much to survivors. Over 40 of them joined us in the Chamber and many tears were shed. Today, and every day, we stand with survivors. And while the wrongs can never be righted, we are glad we have been able to make it easier for them to be seen, heard and compensated for their suffering.