Tasmania to close legal loophole that shielded organisations from abuse claims
The government of Tasmania said it will introduce legislation to close a loophole that has allowed some organisations to avoid liability for child sexual abuse committed by individuals who were not formal employees. The reform is designed to strengthen survivors' legal standing.
The Tasmanian government said it would introduce legislation to close a legal loophole that has shielded some organisations from liability in child sexual abuse cases. Under the existing framework, if the perpetrator was not a formal employee of the organisation, the institution could often avoid liability in compensation claims.
The new rules will make it easier for survivors of abuse that took place within churches, sports clubs and volunteer associations to bring damages claims against those institutions. Tasmania joins a group of Australian states that have tightened their legal frameworks in this area following national inquiries at the federal level.
Survivor groups and legal advocates have welcomed the move. Tasmania's attorney-general said the bill will be tabled in the next parliamentary sitting. Similar rules enacted elsewhere in Australia have led to higher compensation payouts to survivors; changes in insurance and legal practice at the state level are expected to follow in the coming months.
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