Senate debates

Monday, 10 September 2012

Questions on Notice

Human Services (Question No. 1996)

Photo of Penny WrightPenny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 6 August 2012:

(1) How many payments, involving reparation of any kind for child sexual abuse, have been made since 1996 involving Medicare and/or the Health Insurance Commission?

(2) What is the total amount of these payments?

(3) Was any other entity involved in the payments or agreements leading to payments; if so, who and what proportion of the payments did such entities pay.

(4) Did any of the payments involve secrecy agreements; if so, were any such agreements ever a condition of the payments.

(5) Did any payments involve waivers of the right to make any future claims?

Photo of Kim CarrKim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:

The Department of Human services does not make reparation payments to victims of child sexual abuse and is unable to respond to this question on notice. Neither Medicare Australia nor the Health Insurance Commission has ever made such payments in the past.