Page 4954 - Week 15 - Thursday, 8 December 1994

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4 MADAM SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS ARE BEING PROPERLY TARGETED IN THIS AREA THIS MEANS THAT ONLY TRUE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME ARE BEING COMPENSATED - AND THAT THERE HAS TO BE A LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT EXPENDED UNDER THE SCHEME. AS MY COLLEAGUE MRS GRASSBY SHOWED IN HER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE REPORT, IF THE COMPENSATION EXPENDITURE INCREASES AT THE SAME RATE AS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT COULD COST $17 MILLION BY 1997/98.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSIDERED THE COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS CAREFULLY. AS I SAID MANY OF THE IDEAS WERE SUGGESTED BY ME IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH MR HUMPHRIES. BUT WE HAVE COME TO THE VIEW THAT ALTHOUGH THE AMENDMENTS MIGHT HAVE SOME BENEFICIAL IMPACT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHEME, IT WOULD BE FAR MORE PREFERABLE TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE WHOLE PROCESS OF CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION IN THE A.C.T.

THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE COMMUNITY LAW REFORM COMMITTEES VICTIMS REPORT REFERRED TO A DISCUSSION PAPER BEING PREPARED IN THE ATTORNEY-GENERALS DEPARTMENT ON COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME. THIS DISCUSSION PAPER IS GOING TO TAKE A "ZERO-BASED" LOOK AT THE SCHEME - THAT IS, NOT JUST HAVING A LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE, BUT ALSO EXAMINING THE FUNDAMENTALS - WHO SHOULD BE COMPENSATED AND WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND FAIREST WAY TO DO IT.

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