Page 4111 - Week 13 - Thursday, 6 December 2007
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We believe the introduction of a graduated approach would be costly and, indeed, would outweigh the benefits of raising funds in this manner. For that reason, recognising the particular size of the ACT and the number of offences in total that go before our courts in any one year, we concluded that it was not practical to adopt a graduated approach and that a flat fee of a more minor amount was more practical, more cost effective and more worth while in terms of providing more funding to victims of crime services.
The other point Mr Stefaniak raised was around the issue of certain types of crimes, and he mentioned speeding offences in particular. I would dispute Mr Stefaniak’s assertion that speeding is a victimless crime. That is not the government’s view. Speeding is directly correlated with an increase in road accidents and an increase in the impact on those people involved in road accidents. Speeding is directly correlated with an increased risk of being involved in an accident, and that potentially involves accidents with other motor vehicles, pedestrians, motorists and cyclists. These are very real and serious considerations, and those victims deserve just as much recognition in this arrangement as victims of other crimes. That is the rationale for the government’s approach, and we do not agree with Mr Stefaniak’s assertion in that regard.
I thank members for their support of this bill. It will provide a new funding source to better support victims of crime in our community and increase the level of resourcing available for important services such as counselling, practical support through recovery from a crime, transport to and from court, advocacy, and support through the justice process itself. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (5.35): I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name and table a supplementary explanatory statement to the amendment [see schedule 1 at page 4130].
The Victims of Crime Amendment Bill 2007 was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on 15 November. The government is proposing to omit clause 2 of the bill and substitute a new clause 2. The new clause changes the act’s commencement date to seven days after its notification. This amendment is necessary in order to ensure that the changes required to administrative and information technology systems have been tested prior to the introduction of the levy.
Amendment agreed to.
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