Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Siewert, I've just advised you what I am instructed is the position. Yesterday evening I also canvassed the situations of governments being funders of last resort. I'm happy to repeat what I said yesterday evening: that funder-of-last-resort arrangements will apply where a government has equal responsibility with a defunct non-government institution for the abuse of a child. The relevant government will therefore pay the non-government institution's share of redress. If a survivor is abused in an institution that exists but has simply chosen not to participate in the scheme, governments will not be a funder of last resort. This approach is necessary to ensure that non-government institutions, where they have the capacity to participate in the scheme, are not disincentivised from doing so. I think my two statements provide you with the appropriate ambit to answer the question that you asked.