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New laws set to expand national redress scheme access

Mr Albanese said it was important to face up to the sexual abuse of children within institutions. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

Survivors of institutional child sexual abuse could soon have easier access to a national redress scheme.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced legislation that would help expand eligibility for the scheme would be introduced to parliament later this week.

The comments were made while marking the fifth anniversary of the national apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

"The national redress scheme remains an avenue for survivors to seek and receive recognition for abuse suffered, and for institutions and governments to be held to account for that," Mr Albanese told parliament.

"I say to the survivors and victims that together we will continue writing that new chapter, a new chapter that began when your courage made Australia listen and broke the silence forever."

The new legislation will  bring forward recommendations from a review of the redress scheme, which urged an easier path for survivors to navigate the program.

A ministerial forum will be held later in November on child safety, which will bring together federal, state and territory governments.

The forum will examine how jurisdictions could work together to strengthen laws and make it easier to protect children.

The prime minister said it was important to face up to the sexual abuse of children that happened in institutions.

"We have done away with metaphors of darkness, because much of what was inflicted on so many children was in the very places they should have been safe," he said.

The apology in 2018 followed the handing down of the report of the royal commission into institutional child sexual abuse.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also paid tribute to survivors.

"We salute your courage," he said.

"And to every victim, those who spoke up, those who understandably couldn't, and those who ever so sadly took their own lives to end the pain, we as a House express our sorrow for what you endured."

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

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