Major increases in assistance to victims of crime passed by parliament

• Reform package to better support victims of crime and their families was passed by parliament today.
• The maximum financial assistance for primary victims rises from up to $75,000 to up to $120,000.
• Victims of sexual violence will also be eligible for greater payments, with special assistance increasing across all categories.

The passage of the Victims of Crime Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 means all victims will be able to access significantly greater financial assistance.

The maximum financial assistance for other victims has been boosted, including parent secondary victims and related victims, increasing from up to $50,000 to up to $75,000.

Special assistance payments available to domestic and family violence victims will increase nine-fold from $1,000 (category D) to $9,000 (category B).

The range of increases to special assistance payments under the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009 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.

In addition, maximum amounts for funeral expenses will increase from $8,000 to $15,000 and maximum amounts for distress payments from $10,000 to $15,000.

The Palaszczuk Government has allocated more than $200 million over the next five years to boost victim support services – which have experienced increased demand for support from victims and their families – and financial assistance to victims of crime.

Additional Victim Assist Queensland staff will help speed up the assessment of applications.

As well as the funding to support the amendments passed today, the Queensland Government has allocated $18 million to establish the recently announced Victims’ Commissioner office. Of this, $6 million will be for non-government organisations that support victims.

The Government is also committed to ensuring greater representation of victims of crime on the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council (QSAC).

This Bill will expand QSAC from 12 to 14 members, including the appointment of a member with lived experience as a victim of crime.

This will ensure the views of victims are represented in its important deliberations about sentencing.

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette D’Ath:

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring our laws always support victims and hold perpetrators to account.

“Victims of crime can experience significant trauma that can have a major impact on their quality of life and that of their family, friends and community.

“These important changes to the legislation will enable victims of crime, including survivors of domestic and family violence, to receive financial assistance that better reflects what they have experienced.

“The implementation of this funding is a crucial part of our commitment to putting the needs of victims front and centre.

“Victims of crime need faster access to support services and more financial assistance to help them recover from criminal acts and this funding will allow them to do so.”

ENDS