Ms McCARTHY - 2008-05-08
What benefits does the budget deliver for victims of crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. Within the budget there is $420 000 extra that has been allocated through the Department of Justice budget to support victims of crime within the Northern Territory. We stand with all victims of crime, particularly assault and violence. Apart from actually catching and prosecuting those who perpetrate those crimes, in 2007 we increased the maximum amount of financial assistance payable to a victim by 60%, from $25 000 to $40 000, which is a very considerable increase ...
Ms Carney: Yes, but most of them cannot apply; you limited it.
Dr BURNS: We completely reformed the victims assistance system from a slow, intimidating court-based process - and that is why the member for Araluen is objecting, because I well remember …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: … the former member for Goyder and the member for Araluen sticking up for their loyal mates who were creaming the top off the system and, basically, the money was not getting to the victims; it was all being sucked up by the process.
We have $420 000 extra within our budget, which is allowing the Crime Victims Services Unit to quickly process applications. On average, it has gone from 18 months to three months, so it is much faster.
Another feature of this $420 000 that has been allocated is to better support the Victims Register. This register allows the victims and other interested persons the opportunity to be kept informed of matters relating to an offender, such as an impending application for parole, transfers interstate or impending release. These are very important issues. This is a government that has invested into better support for victims of crime.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. Within the budget there is $420 000 extra that has been allocated through the Department of Justice budget to support victims of crime within the Northern Territory. We stand with all victims of crime, particularly assault and violence. Apart from actually catching and prosecuting those who perpetrate those crimes, in 2007 we increased the maximum amount of financial assistance payable to a victim by 60%, from $25 000 to $40 000, which is a very considerable increase ...
Ms Carney: Yes, but most of them cannot apply; you limited it.
Dr BURNS: We completely reformed the victims assistance system from a slow, intimidating court-based process - and that is why the member for Araluen is objecting, because I well remember …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: … the former member for Goyder and the member for Araluen sticking up for their loyal mates who were creaming the top off the system and, basically, the money was not getting to the victims; it was all being sucked up by the process.
We have $420 000 extra within our budget, which is allowing the Crime Victims Services Unit to quickly process applications. On average, it has gone from 18 months to three months, so it is much faster.
Another feature of this $420 000 that has been allocated is to better support the Victims Register. This register allows the victims and other interested persons the opportunity to be kept informed of matters relating to an offender, such as an impending application for parole, transfers interstate or impending release. These are very important issues. This is a government that has invested into better support for victims of crime.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016