Page 1475 - Week 06 - Thursday, 2 July 2020
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That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I am pleased to introduce the Victims Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 into the Assembly today. The bill fulfils a commitment of the Ninth Legislative Assembly parliamentary agreement by establishing a charter of rights for victims of crime.
I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on—the Ngunnawal people. I pay my respects to their elders, both past and present, and acknowledge their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and region. I would also like to acknowledge other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be listening to the Assembly broadcast today.
This acknowledgement is particularly important, considering that today I am talking about how the justice system interacts with ACT community members, and we know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans are disproportionately impacted by the justice system.
This charter will ensure that the ACT continues to be a leading jurisdiction in recognising and supporting victims of crime, establishing innovative approaches to improving access to justice, and building on our unique position as a human rights jurisdiction.
The ACT will have the most robust victim rights framework nationally, by transforming the existing governing principles for the treatment of victims of crime in the administration of justice in the Victims of Crime Act 1994, which are broad and aspirational in nature, with clear and detailed obligations for justice agencies. These obligations will guide victim engagement practices and provide rights for victims as they navigate the justice processes.
The charter takes an early intervention approach to preventing and reducing the re-traumatisation of victims that can occur due to their participation in the justice process. Many people who experience crime show resilience and strength, but it can also be a time of vulnerability and trauma.
Every day, ACT justice agencies work on the front line to support victims of crime to enhance their safety and achieve justice. These agencies display a high level of commitment to this important work.
Despite this, participating in the justice process can still be distressing for victims, and the supports and entitlements that are available to victims are not always consistently applied or easy to access. This can put pressure on victim support and health systems, reduce participation in education and employment or even deter people from reporting crimes or cooperating with prosecution.
The charter will assist to remedy these issues by bridging gaps between victim entitlements and what occurs in practice; raising community awareness about how justice processes occur and the role of the victim; and providing a restorative accountably framework which sets out clear pathways for acknowledgement of the impact of victim rights not being upheld, as well as opportunities to improve victim engagement practices.
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