Page 833 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 13 March 1991
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included this UN declaration because that is a fundamental document on the matter of victims' rights. That committee is currently conducting a full inquiry into the question of victims' rights.
In relation to that committee, I am also delighted to say that its chairman, Mr Justice Kelly, has had a long interest in the question of victims' rights. Indeed, he and I were involved, I think back in about 1987, in what could be called the first victim impact statement which was tendered by consent - as they still have to be, in the ACT, unfortunately - in the ACT Supreme Court. I certainly noted the judge's interest in relation to the question of victims' rights. That was a particularly interesting experiment, in which both the defence and the prosecution concurred, and I think the result was entirely satisfactory. Indeed, I think, at that stage back in 1987 I was shown the importance of victim impact statements.
The Liberal Party has certainly been concerned about this question for a long, long time. It is quite wrong for the Labor Party to say that we have been a bit tardy in relation to this. In our police and justice policy, which was finalised in October 1988, we acknowledged the importance, as indeed does the Alliance Government, of the question of victims' rights.
In paragraph 6 of that policy - and I believe that it is important to read it onto the record - we state:
6. An ACT Liberal Administration will shift the emphasis of the system towards the rights of victims, their families and the community.
We have four paragraphs under the heading "Victims" - paragraphs 26 through to 29 - in which we state:
26. In line with other States, the maximum amount payable under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Ordinance will be increased.
27. The powers of the courts to confiscate and apply the money and assets of criminals to the benefit of their victims will be widened. Money and assets so confiscated will be available to compensate both for personal injuries and property damage.
28. In serious criminal proceedings a victim impact statement will be prepared and tendered to a court prior to an offender being sentenced. The statement will set out the full effects of the crime on the victim and the victim's family, including where appropriate the financial, social and psychological harm suffered by the victim and the victim's family.
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