Government ensuring greater support for victims of crime and communities

• Over $200 million to enhance support for victims of crime in Queensland
• This includes $185 million to increase financial assistance limits payable to victims
• Hands-on supported community recovery approach required to support victims

The Palaszczuk Government has announced a landmark reform package to better support victims of crime and their families.

More than $200 million over the next five years will boost victim support services – which have experienced increased demand for support from victims and their families – and financial assistance to victims of crime, as well as additional Victim Assist Queensland staff to ensure more applications can be assessed sooner.

Additionally, $18 million has been allocated to establish the recently announced Victims’ Commissioner office. $6 million of this will be for non-government organisations that support victims.

The government has heard from victims of crime around the state and is putting them front and centre and that’s what this support package is about.

The upper cap for financial assistance for victims will be reset from $75,000 to $120,000 and a range of increases to payments under the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009 will include:

• Category A – currently $10,000 increased to $15,000
• Category B – currently $3,500 increased to $9,000
• Category C – currently $2,000 increased to $6,000
• Category D – currently $1,000 increased to $3,000
• Increase in funeral expenses from $8,000 to $15,000.
• Increase in distress payments from $10,000 to $15,000

The government will introduce amendments to legislation to implement these changes in October. 

Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“Community safety is my government’s top priority and we need to adopt a community recovery approach with victims as well as their communities given hands-on support through what are traumatic experiences.

“That can be as essential as providing counselling and other support to ensuring victims and their communities are given on-going support through the fallout of a criminal incident.

“We need to ensure victims of crime and their families and their communities have the support they need to recover and rebuild their lives.

“The community has been calling for reforms and we have acted.

“Putting victims first is fundamental and that’s what this significant support package will do.”

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath:

“We understand that victims of crime can experience significant trauma which has ripple effects across their family, friends and their community.

“The Palaszczuk Government has taken momentous steps to reform our laws to better support victims and hold perpetrators to account.

“This important work included undertaking significant reviews into how our police and justice system responds to victims of crime, including domestic violence.

“Today’s funding announcement is a crucial part of our commitment to putting the needs of victims front and centre.”

ENDS

Media contact: Cullen Robinson - 0418 170 474