"They shouldn't be allowed to leave COAG until they all have a united face with the Prime Minister on this." Mr Turnbull on Thursday announced he would deliver a national apology to victims on behalf of all Australians by the end of the year. The government will appoint a "survivor-focused reference group" to help shape the apology. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will deliver an apology to child sex abuse vicitms later this year. "As a nation we must mark this occasion 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," he said. But Mr Turnbull also took aim at the states and territories over the redress scheme that is due to be rolled out by July 1. A central 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 offending institutions.

"The scheme will fulfil its promise of justice only if we have maximum participation across all jurisdictions," Mr Turnbull said. "Survivors deserve much better and I urge the premiers in all the jurisdictions to prioritise this work and join the redress scheme without further delay." Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also made a powerful plea for action. "No dollar figure can make shattered lives whole or bring people back. But that is no reason for delay, no reason for avoiding clear-cut obligations," he said. "As of today, not a single dollar has come from any of the states or the institutions whose names and deeds fill the pages of this report. I say to the institutions and indeed,the states: the time for lawyers is over, the time for justice is here." An emotional Tina Gasmi is comforted by Leonie Sheedy outside the royal commission into child sexual abuse in 2013. Credit:Justin McManus Ms Sheedy said more than 30 abuse survivors had died since the royal commission, losing their chance at redress.