Page 836 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 13 March 1991
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recent talk I had with the New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions, he brought to my attention section 447C of the New South Wales Crimes Act which provides for the preparation of victim impact statements and for putting them before New South Wales courts as part of the sentencing procedure. Indeed, having looked through that section, I can say that there is a lot of commonsense there and it tends to adequately cover some of the questions we are now dealing with. It is good to see the ACT also going down this track.
This motion from Mr Connolly indeed is a timely one. I am glad to see that the ALP now realises that there is a very great need for the rights of victims to be protected. I hope that this attitude shown by the ALP continues into other areas of law reform and of public behaviour, and I certainly hope that, when we come again to look at such things as the move-on powers in September of this year, when it is due to expire, their attitude to that matter will change. Those things are also very important to victims, and I remind the ALP members opposite of the support the Victims of Crime Assistance League has given to this Government and, prior to this Government coming to office, to me and the Liberal Party when the initial private member's Bill was introduced in relation to that particular matter. They see only too clearly the results of violent crimes in our society and they see the need for certain laws to be enacted to protect the ACT community.
I think that particular body also gave evidence before the public behaviour inquiry and made some very strong points in relation to such things as the consumption of alcohol and other behavioural problems in our society. Indeed, of all people they should know, because they are the victims; they indeed are people to be listened to. I am pleased to see that the Attorney-General, in relation to a number of bodies he is setting up, is also taking note of advice from such people and from other members of the community on this very important issue. So, to Mr Connolly I say: It is about time, but better late than never. I look forward to the handing down of the report of Mr Collaery's committee on this whole question of victims' rights, and to some very good legislation coming out of this first Assembly.
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General) (12.04): Firstly, I thank Mr Connolly for his interest in the adoption by the ACT of the declaration of the principles of justice for the victims of crime and abuses of power. If the ACT, as a government, as a people and as a polity, does carry forward this motion, we will join Victoria, which subscribed in 1988, and Tasmania, which subscribed in 1989, and become the third polity in this nation to adopt the convention and declare it as part of its administration.
The rights of the victims of crime is an issue which must concern us all. I think enough has been said by Mr Connolly and by Mr Stefaniak. I will not repeat it. I will just say for the record that, of course, I endorse, as
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