Page 3450 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 13 October 1993
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This stress also appears when an offender is let out on bail. Much care has to be taken in this area. We all know of very sad cases we have seen on television and have heard about on radio recently. Women have been bashed and killed. Whether it is a crime of passion or obsession, it is still pretty horrifying for the victim and for the family which is left behind. Whether it is done out of passion or hate, it is still a disaster. Where a victim demonstrates a need for protection from violence or harassment, she or he should be able to appear before the court and to oppose an application for bail. Also, the victim must be advised of the outcome of all such bail applications.
The committee suggested that the victim has a right to express concern about the release of an offender. Victims are in a vulnerable position and they should be protected and helped by the system, not alienated by it. Alienation only serves to compound any problems victims suffer as a result of crimes against them. The Community Law Reform Committee report on victims of crime has gone a long way towards making us understand the problems that our new age living brings to us. I commend this report and congratulate the Minister on bringing it before the house.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (4.28), in reply: I thank members for their contributions. The report on victims of crime is a landmark report and recommends a path for the ACT which will see us in the forefront of reform in this area, redressing the significant imbalance which has crept into the criminal justice system. Many see that the rights of the accused or the criminal have taken paramountcy over the rights of the victim. This report recommends a redressing of the balance. The recommendations in relation to bail in particular could be very important. We have seen difficult situations in the ACT and recently a Sydney case received a lot of publicity. Apparently a court did not have proper information about the enormous mortal terror that a victim was in in relation to an accused who went on to commit a murder. This report could work significantly to redress the balance. I look forward to bringing before members fairly shortly the Government's proposed legislative response to this report.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
ADJOURNMENT
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! It being 4.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 4.31 pm
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