❓ Dion Barber—Compensation payment 815. Hon Jess Beckerling to the Leader of the House representing the Premier: I refer to recent reports that the government has decided to appeal the decision to award
AnsweredQoN 815Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Dion Barber—Compensation payment
815. Hon Jess Beckerling to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to recent
reports that the government has decided to appeal the decision to award Dion
Barber $2.85 million for damages caused by the sexual abuse he suffered while
in state care.
(1) Is the WA government trying to limit how much
responsibility it has to take on for other historical cases of child sexual
abuse in state care?
(2) Who proposed the appeal?
(3) Does the Premier recognise the risk the appeal
poses regarding the potential retraumatising of Mr Barber and the message it
sends to other victim-survivors?
(4) Does the Premier intend to intervene to drop
the appeal?
815. Hon Jess Beckerling to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to recent
reports that the government has decided to appeal the decision to award Dion
Barber $2.85 million for damages caused by the sexual abuse he suffered while
in state care.
(1) Is the WA government trying to limit how much
responsibility it has to take on for other historical cases of child sexual
abuse in state care?
(2) Who proposed the appeal?
(3) Does the Premier recognise the risk the appeal
poses regarding the potential retraumatising of Mr Barber and the message it
sends to other victim-survivors?
(4) Does the Premier intend to intervene to drop
the appeal?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The Premier has made it clear that
the judgement amount should be paid in full to Mr Barber as soon as possible
and regardless of the outcome of the appeal. The nature and extent of abuse
suffered by Mr Barber is not being disputed. There are aspects of the law that need
to be clarified, which is why, on the advice of senior legal counsel and the
Insurance Commission of Western Australia, the state is appealing certain points
of law in the judgement. To date, the Insurance Commission has finalised more
than 300 historical sexual abuse claims, for which $110 million has been paid.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The Premier has made it clear that
the judgement amount should be paid in full to Mr Barber as soon as possible
and regardless of the outcome of the appeal. The nature and extent of abuse
suffered by Mr Barber is not being disputed. There are aspects of the law that need
to be clarified, which is why, on the advice of senior legal counsel and the
Insurance Commission of Western Australia, the state is appealing certain points
of law in the judgement. To date, the Insurance Commission has finalised more
than 300 historical sexual abuse claims, for which $110 million has been paid.
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