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June 17th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
Updated
More than 100 people have applied for ex gratia payments for abuse they suffered while boarding at hostels in Western Australia.
The State Government scheme offers up to $45,000 for people allegedly abused at 28 country hostels between 1960 and 2006.
The six-month submission period closed last month and there were 106 applications.
An inquiry followed widespread abuse of boarders by warden Dennis McKenna at St Andrew’s hostel in Katanning between 1975 and 1990.
The Minister for Community Services, Tony Simpson, says he believes the government has responded appropriately to the inquiry findings.
“I think the government was upfront back in September last year when they announced this scheme, so we acknowledge that when the report came down, there was responsibility from our perspective,” he said.
“I think we’ve been upfront with the community on trying to work forward on that.”
Department of Communities staff will now contact all applicants to verify their claims with payments expected to be granted by the end of December.
Mr Simpson says he is confident anyone who is eligible for the payment has applied.
“We’ve advertised quite extensively on it,” he said.
“We’ve actually gone through a lot of process, I think it’s been well advertised in the general media, so I’m confident we’ve done all we possibly can in collecting the names of everyone we can.”
Mr Simpson has acknowledged the payment will not make up for the abuse.
“I don’t think anything will bring closure but I certainly think this will help with the process,” he said.
Topics:
sexual-offences,
government-and-politics,
perth-6000,
katanning-6317
First posted
Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-18/applications-for-abuse-payments-close/4761646
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