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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Tuesday, 25 May 2004) . . Page.. 2254 ..

The VAB ensures the quality of services provided to victims of crime.

The VAB has also achieved improvements in the quality of statistics kept, and therefore the information about victims of crime available.

In addition to this, the VAB provides the opportunity for a broad range of community views to be heard on victim issues as the Board is made up of a number of government and non-government representatives as prescribed in Regulation 8 of the Victims of Crime Act 1994.

The VAB also provides the opportunity for community and government agencies to share information and knowledge to improve both services for, and the treatment of, victims of crime within the criminal justice system.

(4) The VAB is funded through the budget of the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The Victims of Crime Assistance League (VOCAL) is a community organization. VOCAL provides the volunteer component of the Victims Services Scheme pursuant to a Service Level Agreement with the Department of Health that was negotiated by VOCAL. It is understood that VOCAL receives approximately $110,000 per year pursuant to this Agreement. The VAB, whilst currently having a full time officer for support and resources, receive only a small amount of money, approximately $10,000 to enable it to pay the expenses of members and for ongoing education.

(5) The VAB would only have contact with VOCAL in pursuance of its roles and functions as established under Regulation 6. Such contact has not been routinely necessary to date.

Victims of Crime Assistance League
(Question No 1478)

Mr Stefaniak asked the Attorney General, upon notice, on 1 April 2004:

(1) Is it true that the Victims of Crime Coordinator (VCC) has taken over a room at the court previously occupied by the Victims of Crime Assistance League (VOCAL); if so, why was this done;

(2) What provisions have been made for the members of the VOCAL to use that room or have another room of their own allocated to them at court so that they can assist victims going through the court process;

(3) Will the Department ensure that the VOCAL has complete unfettered access to the room at court now occupied by VCC or alternatively ensure another room at court is available for them to use.

Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s questions are as follows:

(1) There is no room at the court that is, or has ever been, exclusively occupied by the Victims of Crime Assistance League.

There are a number of external agencies whose offices are hosted by the Magistrate’s Court Building. These include ACT Corrections Intake Office, Victims of Crime Co-ordinator’s Office, Media Room, Court Alcohol and Drug Assessment Service, Legal Aid Protection Orders Unit and the Prisoners Aid Society.

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