South Australia is set to join a national redress scheme for victims of institutional child abuse as Nick Xenophon moved to make it a state election issue.
Mr Xenophon took to the steps of parliament house in Adelaide on Monday with victims of abuse, vowing to make SA's participation in the compensation scheme a condition of any minority government receiving his support if SA-BEST wins the balance of power at the March poll.
"This is leaving people in limbo. It's just cruel," Mr Xenophon said.
"It's not just about compensation, it's about getting issues into the open so that it doesn't happen again.
"Tens of thousands of survivors remain traumatised by what happened to them when they were young in institutionalised care, many of whom were under state government control and the government must accept the responsibility."
But Premier Jay Weatherill said a recent Council of Australian Governments meeting agreed to have a national redress scheme finalised by June this year.
He said while some work remained to be done, to take proper regard for SA's action in already establishing its own compensation arrangements, SA would opt into the national scheme.
"We're going to co-operate to make sure a national scheme comes about," he said.
"So Nick's demands that South Australia opt into that scheme have already been met."
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said SA's participation in a national redress scheme would be something a Liberal government would negotiate after the March 17 election.
"We don't support a stand-alone state redress system," he said.
"What we would look at is joining a national approach. We think this is the logical way to go."
