The article in Courier Mail “Criminals get abuse cash Call to childhood payments to go to victims” has misrepresented the views of Lotus Place and myself by isolating one comment among many which has not been accurately represented in the article.
My quotes about payment to victims were about former residents who once they receive their payment would not be exempt from payments to current victims if they faced court and were found guilty of a crime which led to current compensation. It in no way was about payment to historic victims who were eligible for compensation through the state funded Criminal Compensation Scheme.
The view of Lotus Place is that in no way should there be any adjustment to the eligibility criteria for the scheme which would discriminate against prisoners. The Redress money can be used by prisoners for their own development through education and or establishing themselves in the community post release. Any adjustment to this would be completely against the intention of the Redress Scheme and the acknowledgement by the current government of the consequences of childhood abuse on thousands of children whilst in church and state care.
Finally I would like to make it very clear that neither myself nor anyone through Lotus Place initiated any calling for childhood payments to go to victims and nor were we the primary source behind this article.
Karyn Walsh
