The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme (the Committee) was formed in 2019 to inquire into the Australian Government policy, program and legal response to the redress related recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission), including the establishment and operation of the Commonwealth Redress Scheme and ongoing support of survivors. The Committee is required to table its final report before May 2022.

On 1 May 2020, the Committee tabled the First Interim Report on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme April 2020 (First Interim Report) that made 14 recommendations. The recommendations identified aspects of the National Redress Scheme (NRS) that required immediate reform, and highlighted matters that needed to be considered as priority areas for future consideration.

This Second Interim Report seeks to build on the findings made in the First Interim Report. This report examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on survivors, the experience of First Nations survivors, operational considerations in respect of decision-making, findings of the Second Year Review and the interim government response.

Report overview:

• Chapter 1 details the scope of the activities conducted to undertake the Second Interim Report.
• Chapter 2 considers the continued survivor experience of the NRS, with particular consideration of First Nations peoples experience,5 the effectiveness of redress support services, the impact of COVID-19 upon survivors, and privacy matters.
• Chapter 3 examines the operation of the NRS; including the suitability of the assessment framework, role of the Independent Decision Makers and existing arrangements in relation to payments and indexation.
• Chapter 4 considers the provision of legal advice and behaviour of private law firms in relation to the NRS.
• Chapter 5 discusses participation in the NRS by both institutions and survivors, including discussion of the adequacy of current funder of last resort provisions.
• Chapter 6 considers the recommendations made in the Second Year Review and the government response to those recommendations.