Page 372 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
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(8) What de-briefing services and other mental health support services are provided to case managers and other staff of the Commission and what do these services cost.
(9) What were the financial outcomes for Victim Support ACT compared to the budget allocations and were there any differences; if so, why.
Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The issues paper released in April 2013 on the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme specifically considered the possibility of introducing an administratively based scheme. The issues paper outlined the administratively based schemes in place in Queensland and New South Wales and requested stakeholders indicate their preference. Fourteen of the 19 stakeholders who made submissions supported a move to an administratively based scheme.
A working group, which includes the Victims of Crime Commissioner, and representatives from the Magistrates Court, the ACT Solicitor General and Treasury, is now considering options for a move to an administratively based scheme in detail. Directorate officials have been in contact with New South Wales and Queensland officials, to obtain information about the experience of the schemes in these jurisdictions. I am expecting advice about options for changes to the scheme to be provided in early 2014. Before any changes are made to the existing scheme, I will ensure that there is appropriate consultation including with the Victims Advisory Board (VAB).
(2) In 2013, the Board worked on providing advice to me in relation to Recommendation 3.8 of the Bimberi Review, procedural arrangements supporting cancellation of parole provisions, and trends emerging from data in relation to sex offending and the jurisdiction the offence took place in. The board is currently finalising formal advice on this.
(3) The Forward Work Plan of the Sexual Assault Reform Program (SARP) Reference Group includes planning to conduct further research and consider the practicalities of implementing a time limit on commencement of sexual offence cases in the ACT. The SARP Reference Group is currently finalising timeframes and priorities for the Forward Work Plan. The SARP Reference Group is made up of representatives of 15 agencies involved in the provision of services to victims of sexual offences.
(4) (a) The Victims of Crime Commissioner’s proposal related to an increase in the ‘victims of crime service levy’ (the levy) contained in the Victims of Crime Act 1994. In November 2013, the Government implemented the proposal to increase the levy. Following commencement of the Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 (No 4), the levy was increased from $10 to $30 for both court imposed fines and traffic infringements. This allows for full cost recovery for the operations of Victims Support ACT which is a service that supports victims of crime to cope with the impact of what has happened, including the provision of information on accessing their rights and entitlements. It was not considered necessary to establish a trust fund for this purpose.
(b) The working group for the review of the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme is considering the New South Wales model for payment of financial assistance. Section 14 of the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013 (NSW) creates a Victims Support Fund from which payments of financial assistance are made to victims of crime. The working group is yet to consider the implications of adopting the New South Wales model of a trust fund as an option for the ACT.
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