Minister urges abuse whistleblower to take up compensation
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Anti abuse campaigner Walter Tusyn says he will continue his fight for compensation. (ABC News: David Hudspeth)
The Tasmanian Government says its compensation scheme for victims of child sex abuse does not have a time limit, unlike claims pursued in the courts.
Walter Tusyn developed post-traumatic stress disorder after being abused in State care in 1961, but says his psychiatric problems only fully emerged when he saw the perpetrator six years ago.
He's spent five years trying to sue the State Government, but Justice Alan Blow yesterday found the abuse and original harm was well outside the three-year time limit for plaintiffs to sue.
The Human Services Minister, Lin Thorp, says the Government's ex-gratia compensation scheme is still an option for Mr Tusyn despite him rejecting it before.
"The judicial system is quite separate from that of the Government. And I would encourage Walter to make full use of the legal redress that's open to him," Ms Thorpe said.
"My position is that of supporting people who've been abused in care, and making sure that as the new Minister in this area, I do every single thing in my capacity to make sure we're not standing here again in 25 years, doing the same thing," she said.
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