By Ian Llewellyn of NZPAUp to a thousand victims of historic abuse could be offered "wellness payments" to settle their claims, MPs were told yesterday.Ministers were given confidential advice before Christmas about how to settle a wide range of
By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA
Up to a thousand victims of historic abuse could be offered "wellness payments" to settle their claims, MPs were told yesterday.
Ministers were given confidential advice before Christmas about how to settle a wide range of long running claims of abuse in psychiatric hospitals, welfare homes and other institutions, Crown Health Finance Agency officials told the health select committee today.
Agency property manager Lynn Martin told MPs there was a large number of claims against a range of government entities.
"The recommendation was that we might look at offering a wellness payment and it's pretty confidential at the moment," Ms Martin said.
"There are a number of government agencies that have historic abuse claims and we are dealing with them on a whole of government approach and just prior to Christmas we put up a recommendation to ministers and also a report on how we are going with managing those claims."
Attorney-General Chris Finlayson is co-ordinating the Government's policy response to the historic abuse claims and his spokesman confirmed the agency was one of those giving advice on the issue.
No decisions had been taken and ministers were set to consider the issue in March.
In May 2007, the Queensland Government set up a $A100 million ($NZ123m) redress fund in response to an inquiry into the abuse of children in Queensland institutions.
The scheme provided for payments ranging between $A7000 and $A40,000 to people who experienced abuse and neglect.
Over 10,200 applications were received by the closing date in 2008 with more than 7400 applications being paid.
In New Zealand there are differing figures on how many people might be eligible for payments.
The Attorney-General's office said there were 527 claims before the High Court, but no consideration had been given how much could be offered to settle the claims if the recommendation was followed.
It was recently reported that more than $11 million of state-funded legal aid has been approved or already paid to pursue hundreds of historic abuse compensation claims.
Few of the claims have been heard despite some being filed almost 10 years ago.
The Dominion Post reported that the Legal Services Agency, which administers legal aid, said more than 900 people have asked for legal aid to sue for the damage they say decades-old psychological, physical and sexual abuse caused them. Claims are still being filed.
Legal aid for about 50 people was refused at the outset and about 300 more have either dropped their claims or had legal aid withdrawn after it was initially granted, the agency told the newspaper.
It began reconsidering funding in the wake of the first few claims failing. When legal aid was withdrawn for some claimants, the withdrawal decisions were taken to a review panel and then on appeal to the High Court.
Lawyers involved in the claim say there are many more people who could be eligible for compensation if legal action was successful.
The United Nations Committee Against Torture has asked the Government what it is doing to ensure the allegations are investigated, perpetrators prosecuted and victims compensated and rehabilitated.
