Qld govt urged to end abuse legal cut-off

Legal and medical experts have joined child protection advocates to call for the Queensland government to repeal the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases.

Under current laws, people who are sexually assaulted as children are barred from suing for compensation unless they bring a civil case before they turn 21.

However, advocates say survivors of abuse take on average 22 years to report sexual abuse, so most victims are never able to seek compensation in the courts from institutions which protect offenders.

The current law also means there is no legal or financial incentive for institutions to protect children from predators in their organisations.

Trauma specialist Dr Warwick Middleton said the injuries caused by child sexual abuse mean victims are not psychologically ready to address the abuse for many years.

Doctor of law Professor Ben Mathews said this delay meant that most victims are barred forever for obtaining compensation through the courts.

"This is an intolerable situation," he said.

"This is fundamentally a question of access to justice and it is completely unfair and unjust that in a mature liberal democracy survivors of child sexual abuse should be barred from getting access to the civil legal system."

Prof Matthews will be a key speaker at a forum at Queensland Parliament House on Tuesday night.

He said the repeal of time limits had not led to a flood of claims in other countries where the laws have been repealed because they are costly, lengthy and emotionally traumatic.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended in September the Statute of Limitations should be repealed immediately by all Australian states and territories and should take effect retrospectively.

Victoria repealed time limits last year and NSW repealed the legislation in March this year, both retrospectively.

Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston said it was time Queensland followed suit to repeal the legislation.