Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will deliver a national apology to the victims of institutional child sex abuse.
Mr Turnbull made the pledge on Thursday during a speech to Federal Parliament in response to the child sex abuse royal commission.
The government will appoint a “survivor-focused reference group” to help shape the apology, Mr Turnbull said.
“On behalf of the nation I will deliver that apology before the end of the year,” he said.
“As a nation we must mark this occassion in a form that reflects the wishes of survivors and affords them the dignity to which they were entitled as children but which was denied to them by the very people tasked with their care.”
Mr Turnbull’s promise came as he updated the chamber on a redress scheme for survivors, due to be rolled out by July 1. It was a key recommendation of the royal commission, which handed its report to the government in December.
The redress scheme will offer up to $150,000 to survivors and enable personal apologies from the offending institutions.
Mr Turnbull urged the states, territories and non-government organisations not to delay signing up, saying the scheme needed maximum participation to be successful. He will push the issue with state and territory leaders at Friday’s Council of Australian Government’s meeting in Canberra.
“I am committed, my government is committed to doing everything possible to make sure this national tragedy is never repeated and I urge all Australian governments and the non-government sector – the churches, charities and other institutions – to respond to the report by June as was recommended by the royal commission,” Mr Turnbull said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten suggested the government host an event at Parliament House to thank and recognise survivors.
Mr Turnbull’s apology will come 10 years after former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd’s national apology to the stolen generations.