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2016
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR
THE
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
VICTIMS OF CRIME
(FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE) BILL 2016
EXPLANATORY
STATEMENT
Presented by
Simon Corbell MLA
Attorney
General
Introduction
This explanatory statement relates to the Victims of Crime (Financial
Assistance) Bill 2016 (the Bill) as presented to the Legislative Assembly. It
has been prepared in order to assist the reader of the Bill and to help inform
debate on it. It does not form part of the Bill and has not been endorsed by the
Assembly.
The statement must be read in conjunction with the Bill. It is
not, and is not meant to be, a comprehensive description of the Bill. What is
said about a provision is not to be taken as an authoritative guide to the
meaning of a provision, this being a task for the courts.
Purpose of the Bill
The Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Bill 2016 repeals and
replaces the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Act 1983 (the
repealed Act).
Financial assistance is provided to victims of crime as
part of the ACT community’s recognition that crime takes an enormous
physical, financial and emotional toll on its victims. The Bill is consistent
with the United Nations declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims
of Crime and Abuse of Power 1985 (UN Victims Declaration). The UN Victims
Declaration provides that states should endeavour to provide financial
compensation to victims who have suffered significant bodily injury or
impairment of physical or mental health as a result of serious crimes where
financial compensation is not fully available from the offender or other
sources.
The Bill establishes an administrative scheme for providing
financial assistance to victims who have been injured as a result of an act of
violence. Applications under the new scheme are assessed by the Victims of Crime
Commissioner (the commissioner), rather than submitted for a decision of a
court, as is the case under the repealed Act.
The new scheme recognises
a wide range of victims, provides certainty and transparency of decision-making,
consistency and proportionality in the assistance available for various types of
offences and timely responses to the individual circumstances of victims of
crime.
The
structure of the new scheme will enhance access to the scheme for victims of
crime through: improved case management procedures; simplified application
processes; reduced reliance on legal representation and increased transparency
of decision-making.
The Bill provides three main categories of financial
assistance for victims of crime: immediate need payments, economic loss
payments and recognition payments. An immediate need payment will be made
quickly and when a victim needs it most, to promote recovery, prevent further
harm and minimise further threats to safety. Economic loss payments provides for
payment of expenses or loss of earnings incurred as a direct result of the
injury.
Recognition payments are lump sum payments to acknowledge the
trauma suffered by a victim of crime as a result of an act of violence. The
levels of recognition payments are based on the objective level of harm that is
likely to be caused to the victim. Recognition payment amounts are increased
where one or more circumstance of aggravation exists.
A number of
provisions in the repealed Act have been substantively retained, for example
those relating to the victims financial assistance levy and the limitation on
lawyers legal costs.
Human Rights Considerations - Overview
The Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Bill 2016 engages a number of
the rights in the Human Rights Act 2004 (the HRA).
The Bill
engages, and may be seen as placing limitations on, the following HRA
rights:
• recognition and equality before the law, section 8;
• privacy and reputation, section 12; and
• fair trial,
section 21.
The Bill also engages, and supports, the following HRA
rights:
• protection of family and children, section 11;
and
• right to liberty and security of person, section
18.
Section 28 of the HRA provides that human rights are subject only to
reasonable limits set by laws that can be demonstrably justified in a free and
democratic society. Section 28(2) of the HRA provides that in deciding
whether a limit on a human right is reasonable, all relevant factors must be
considered, including:
(a) the nature of the right affected;
(b) the
importance of the purpose of the limitation;
(c) the nature and extent of the
limitation;
(d) the relationship between the limitation and its purpose;
and
(e) any less restrictive means reasonably available to achieve the
purpose the limitation seeks to achieve.
The following provisions of the
Bill seen as potentially engaging human rights are considered having regard to
the provisions of section 28 of the HRA:
• the exception to the
requirement to report to police: clause 31;
• provisions relating to
information sharing: clauses 38, 40, 41 and 79; and
• provisions
relating to recovery from offenders: clause 71 and 74.
Special
reporting class victims
Clause 31 sets out the reporting
requirements for applicants for financial assistance. It provides that
applicants who are special reporting class victims are not required to
report the act of violence to police to be eligible for an immediate need
payment or an economic loss payment.
Clause 31 is to the effect that an
applicant is a special reporting class victim if the applicant is a
primary victim:
i. of a sexual offence;
ii. of an offence committed by a
person who was in a position of power, influence or trust in relation to the
primary victim when the violent crime was committed;
iii. who was a child
when the act of violence occurred;
iv. who has an impaired capacity (whether
or not it existed when the act was committed); or
v. who did not report the
relevant act of violence to the police because of threats made, or intimidation
by another person.
Applicants for an immediate need payment, who are
special reporting class victims, have the option of reporting the act to at
least two of the following agencies, instead of to police:
i. an
appropriately qualified non-government agency;
ii. a government agency;
or
iii. a doctor or a psychologist or a counsellor or a social
worker.
Applicants for an economic loss payment who are special
reporting class victims have the option of reporting to a government agency
and a doctor or a psychologist or a counsellor or a social worker, as an
alternative to reporting to police.
This is a significant departure from
the repealed Act, which requires all victims to have reported the act of
violence to police.
Nature of the right affected
Section 8
of the HRA provides that ‘everyone is equal before the law and is entitled
to the equal protection of the law without discrimination.’ Clause 31 may
be seen to engage this aspect of section 8 by providing different reporting
requirements for different categories of victims. All victims other than
special reporting class victims are required to report to police to be
eligible for financial assistance.
The importance of the purpose of
the limitation
The victims of crime financial assistance scheme is a
scheme of last resort and is not intended to operate in isolation of wider
criminal justice system responses to crime. It is vital that the scheme
encourage the reporting of crime to police to allow offences to be dealt with by
the criminal justice system. Police investigations also provide valuable
information that will assist the commissioner to make decisions about
applications for financial assistance. If victims do not report to police, there
may be insufficient information for the commissioner to determine the
application. Not all victims of crime face the same level of barriers to
reporting a crime to police that are experienced by vulnerable special reporting
class victims.
The nature and extent of the limitation
Any
limitation, in terms of distinctions between victims resulting from clause 31,
only applies to immediate need payments and economic loss payments. No
limitation applies in relation to recognition payments, as all victims are
required to provide evidence that the applicant has reported the act of violence
to police in order to be eligible for these types of payments.
The
relationship between the limitation and its purpose
The requirement
for victims of crime, other than special reporting class victims, to
provide a police report to be eligible for financial assistance ensures that
police will be informed of the act of violence and will allow them to conduct
further investigations. This can assist the commissioner with additional sources
of information on which to base a decision about financial assistance. Less
restrictive application criteria for certain vulnerable victims who are more
likely to face barriers when reporting crime to police ensures they are not
precluded from accessing assistance. The relationship between the policy intent
and the limitation is clear and necessary to ensure these vulnerable victims can
access assistance while also maintaining the requirement to report to police as
the standard requirement.
Any less restrictive means reasonably
available to achieve the purpose
It is considered that there are no
less restrictive means available to achieve this purpose.
To the extent
that there is any limitation on rights this is reasonable and proportionate,
noting the public interest of facilitating access to the scheme for vulnerable
victims of crime.
Commissioner may ask for information when deciding
application for financial assistance
Division 3.5 provides powers for
the commissioner to obtain information when deciding applications for financial
assistance.
Clause 38 provides that when deciding an application for
financial assistance the commissioner may make any inquiries that the
commissioner believes on reasonable grounds are relevant to the application and
by written notice ask the applicant to give an authorisation allowing the
commissioner to obtain further information about the application from another
person.
Clause 40 provides the commissioner with the power to ask for
information and documents from the chief police officer or an investigating
police officer. Clause 40(1) provides a list of things the commissioner may
request information and documents about. Clause 40(3) prevents the requested
officer from providing the information or documents if doing so would prejudice
an investigation, lead to the identification of an informer or affect the safety
of any person. Clause 40(5) provides that if the requested officer provides a
copy of a person’s statement, the officer must remove all particulars
identifying the maker of the statement unless they are relevant to deciding the
application.
Clause 41 allows the commissioner to ask for information
from a court registrar about a proceeding started for an act of violence that is
the subject of the application.
Nature of the right
affected
Section 12 of the HRA provides that ‘everyone has the
right not to have his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence interfered
with unlawfully or arbitrarily.’ In international law this has been
interpreted as limiting public authorities to only obtaining information
relating to an individual's private life the knowledge of which is essential in
the interests of society.[1] Division
3.5 may be seen to engage section 12 of the HRA by providing the commissioner
with power to access private information.
The importance of the
purpose of the limitation
The purpose of this limitation is to ensure
that the commissioner has access to sufficient information to make a decision
about an application. It is vital that the commissioner has the ability to
verify and seek further evidence to support an application before making a
decision about financial assistance.
The relationship between the
limitation and its purpose
The information sharing clauses are
necessary for the commissioner to determine an applicant’s claim for
assistance. The scheme cannot operate without information regarding the facts of
the act of violence, injury incurred, investigation, and court process. The
scheme would be significantly diminished if the commissioner was not able to
obtain enough information to assist victims of crime, or was placed in the
position of potentially making awards to co-offenders and co-conspirators.
The nature and extent of the limitation
The clauses are
limited in their application. The commissioner can only request information that
specifically relates to the application for financial assistance being
considered, when deciding an application for financial assistance in relation to
an act of violence. Upon receipt of the information, the commissioner is bound
to treat it in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2014 and the
Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997.
International human
rights law requires that limitations on privacy must be reasonable and
proportionate; interferences must be lawful and not
arbitrary.[2] It prescribes that
legislation must specify in detail the precise circumstances in which such
interferences may be permitted, and that a decision to make use of such
authorised interference must be made only by the authority designated under the
law, and on a case-by-case basis.[3]
These safeguards are clearly met by the clauses in question. The
information and documents that can be requested from police about an act of
violence must be specific in nature and limited to the issues identified in the
clause. The clause also provides that the information must not be given if the
officer believes on reasonable grounds that giving the information or documents
may prejudice an investigation, lead to the identification of an informer or
affect the safety of any person. The registrar is not required to provide
information if satisfied on reasonable grounds that the giving of the
information is contrary to a law in force in the Territory, or otherwise
inappropriate.
Any less restrictive means reasonably available to
achieve the purpose
It is considered that there are no less
restrictive means reasonably available to ensure that the commissioner has
access to sufficient information to make a decision about an application.
Commissioner may ask registrar for information relevant to recovery
action
Clause 75 provides that the commissioner may ask the registrar
for information that is relevant to deciding whether to take, or continue
recovery action under part 6 of the Bill.
Clause 75 provides a list of
things that the commissioner may ask the registrar for information about. The
registrar is required to provide this information unless satisfied on reasonable
grounds that the giving of the information is contrary to a law in force in the
Territory or otherwise inappropriate.
This provision is expected to be
used to obtain an address for the notice to be issued to an offender, and to
determine whether the offender was found guilty of an offence that involves an
act of violence that is the subject of an application for financial assistance.
Nature of the right affected
Obtaining information about
an offender may be seen to activate section 12(a) of the HRA, which
states that ‘everyone has the right not to have his or her privacy,
family, home or correspondence interfered with unlawfully or arbitrarily.’
As discussed above, this limits public authorities to only obtaining information
relating to an individual's private life, the knowledge of which is essential in
the interests of
society.[4]
The importance
of the purpose of the limitation
The purpose of recovery action is to
require offenders to contribute financially to the scheme as a result of the
harm done to their victims. Without access to information such as the
offender’s current address, the commissioner would not be able to perform
this function.
The limitation is also necessary to allow the
commissioner to obtain information to determine the appropriateness of taking
recovery action. Without sufficient information, recovery action could be taken
in situations where the offence the offender is convicted of does not relate to
the act of violence for which financial assistance was granted.
The
nature and extent of the limitation
The limitation is not extensive
as information may only be sought for a limited purpose, and must specifically
relate to the act of violence that is the subject of the application. This
ensures that only information relevant to the commissioner’s recovery
action is provided.
The relationship between the limitation and its
purpose
It is appropriate to ensure that the commissioner can access
the information required to undertake recovery action to require offenders to
contribute financially to the scheme.
Any less restrictive means
reasonably available to achieve the purpose
It is considered that
there are no less restrictive means reasonably available to achieve this
purpose.
Recovery intention notice
Clause 70 provides
that an offender is liable to repay a recoverable amount if they receive a
recovery notice and do not, on or before the recovery date, pay the recoverable
amount or apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a review.
Recovery can only be sought if an offender has been convicted or found
guilty of a recompensed offence and an assisted person has been given financial
assistance or a funeral expense payment in relation to the recompensed offence.
The policy intent is that the offender should contribute to the financial cost
of the scheme.
Recovery from offenders is a two-step process, which
requires the commissioner to issue a recovery intention notice (clause 74)
providing the offender with an opportunity to object to the recovery action
before issuing a recovery notice (clause 77).
Under clause 74(3), the
only grounds an offender may rely on to object to recovery action are that the
offender is not the person who is liable for the recovery amount or that the
commissioner has not taken into account a payment that the offender has made or
is required to make in relation to the recompensed offence in accordance with a
court order.
Clause 77 provides that the commissioner must take into
account any objections under clause 74(4) before confirming the
commissioner’s intention to recover from the offender and giving the
offender a written recovery notice.
Clause 76(1) explicitly states that,
as far as practicable, the commissioner must not give the offender confidential
information about a person who receives financial assistance under the Bill in a
recovery proceeding. This means that the offender will be informed of the amount
of financial support provided to a person in relation to the act of violence
that they were convicted for, but not the nature or composition of the
assistance the applicant received.
Clause 77(3) provides that an
offender may apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal for external
review of the recovery notice.
Nature of the right
affected
These clauses may be seen to engage the right to fair trial
(s 21) of the HRA, which provides that “everyone has the right to have
criminal charges, and rights and obligations recognised by law, decided by a
competent, independent and impartial court or tribunal after a fair and public
hearing.”
Section 21 of the HRA gives effect to article 14 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and promotes the procedural
fairness and natural justice in proceedings against a person. The right to fair
trial is a fundamental, but not absolute, human right and can be subject to
limitations.
The right is engaged by restricting the grounds for
objection available to an offender in relation to a recovery order being issued
by the commissioner.
The importance of the purpose of the
limitation
The financial assistance scheme is intended to benefit
victims by giving financial assistance to aid recovery, improve safety, help
prevent future acts of violence and recognise the harmful effects of acts of
violence. It is not appropriate to provide an offender with details of the
assistance provided to the victim. Providing details of where the victim
accessed therapeutic support or locksmith assistance creates a foreseeable
safety risk to the victim. A victim’s right to privacy would be interfered
with if an offender could access counselling notes or details about other
medical treatment received. Limiting the grounds for objection is essential in
order to ensure the safety and the privacy of victims applying under the scheme.
The nature and extent of the limitation
An offender issued
with a recovery notice has an internal right of review to the commissioner and
an external right of review to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. In
addition, the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1989 will
apply to decisions made by the commissioner. This enables the review of certain
administrative decisions on grounds including that a decision was not
procedurally fair. There are also common law procedural fairness protections
which may
apply.[5]
Further, the imposition of a recovery notice and any resulting review
of the notice are civil matters. The international standard relating to the
right to fair trial for civil matters is significantly lower than the threshold
for criminal matters. The Human Rights Committee General Comment states
‘anyone convicted of a crime shall have the right to have their conviction
and sentence reviewed by a higher tribunal according to law... (this) does not
apply to procedures determining rights and obligations in a suit at
law[6] or any other procedure not
being part of a criminal appeal
process.’[7]
The European
Court of Human Rights has also considered the scope of the right in relation to
civil matters. The Court acknowledged that the requirements inherent in the
concept of a “fair hearing” are not the same in cases concerning the
determination of civil rights and obligations as they are in cases concerning
the determination of a criminal charge; ‘the Contracting States have
greater latitude when dealing with civil cases concerning civil rights and
obligations than they have when dealing with criminal
cases.’[8]
Based on this analysis, the marginal limitation is reasonable and
necessary to protect the privacy and safety of the victim in matters relating to
recovery orders.
The relationship between the limitation and its
purpose
It is appropriate for the commissioner to determine the
amount of assistance a victim requires, having regard to the individual
circumstances of the victim and the maximum amounts prescribed. These decisions
are subject to external review, on application by the applicant. If it is clear
that the offender committed the act of violence that resulted in the injury
incurred by the victim, it is not appropriate for an offender to dispute the
amount of assistance the commissioner gave to an individual as a result of the
act of violence.
The limitation prohibits an offender from seeking
information about the details of the assistance provided to an assisted person
to use as the basis for an appeal against the amount of financial assistance
provided. The applicant is required to satisfy the commissioner that they
suffered an injury as a result of the act of violence. Allowing offenders access
to details of that injury and treatment received may create a safety risk to the
victim, interfere with a victim’s right to privacy, or may deter victims
of crime from making an application.
Any less restrictive means
reasonably available to achieve the purpose
It is considered that
there is no less restrictive means reasonably available to achieve the purpose
of this limitation.
Commissioner may ask government agency for
offender’s home address for recovery action
Clause 79 provides
that if the commissioner decides to take recovery action under this part the
commissioner may, at any time, ask a government agency for the offender’s
home address. If a government agency has the information requested under
subsection (1) the government agency must give that information to the
commissioner unless any other law prevents the information from being given.
This provision is expected to be used to obtain an address to enable a
recovery intention notice to be given to an offender.
Nature of the
right affected
Obtaining information about the home address of an
offender may be seen to activate section 12(a) of the HRA, which states
that ‘everyone has the right not to have his or her privacy, family, home
or correspondence interfered with unlawfully or arbitrarily.’ As discussed
above, this limits public authorities to only obtaining information relating to
an individual's private life the knowledge of which is essential in the
interests of society.[9]
The
importance of the purpose of the limitation
The purpose of recovery
action is to require offenders to contribute financially to the scheme. This is
not achievable if the commissioner is unable to locate an offender to pursue
recovery. Without access to the offender’s current address, the
commissioner would not be able to perform this function.
The nature
and extent of the limitation
The limitation is very narrow; the
commissioner is only able to request one piece of very specific information, the
offender’s home address. This information may only be sought once the
commissioner has made a decision to take recovery action.
Further, any
government agency receiving a request to provide the information is only
required to provide the address if not prevented from doing so by any other Act,
or State or Commonwealth law.
The relationship between the limitation
and its purpose
It is appropriate to ensure that the commissioner can
access an offender’s address to allow the commissioner to undertake
recovery action to require offenders to contribute financially to the
scheme.
Any less restrictive means reasonably available to achieve the
purpose
It is considered that there are no less restrictive means
reasonably available to achieve this purpose.
Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Bill 2016
Detail
Notes on Clauses
Part 1 Preliminary
This part
comprises clauses 1 to 6 and deals with formal matters including the name of the
legislation, its commencement and the objects of the Act.
Clause 1
– Name of the Act
This clause is a formal provision that sets
out the name of the Bill, once enacted.
Clause 2 –
Commencement
This clause explains when the provisions in the Bill
will take effect. Clause 2(1) provides for commencement either on 1 July 2016 or
if, before 1 July 2016, the minister fixes another date on which the Bill will
commence, that date.
Clause 2(2) provides that if the Bill has not
commenced within 18 months beginning on its notification day, it automatically
commences on the first day after that period.
These provisions provide
certainty around when the Act commences while also providing some flexibility to
ensure administrative arrangements are in place to support the Bill when it
commences.
Clause 2(3) makes it clear that section 79 of the Legislation
Act 2001 will not apply to this Bill. That section would otherwise require
automatic commencement six months after notification.
Clause 3 –
Dictionary
This is a technical clause identifying the dictionary and
explaining conventions used to define words and terms for the purpose of the
Act.
Clause 4 – Notes
This is a technical clause
explaining the status of notes in the Act.
Clause 5 – Offences
against Act – application of Criminal Code etc
This clause
makes it clear that the Criminal Code 2002 applies to all offences
against the Act. The Act should also be read in conjunction with the
Legislation Act 2001, which provides for interpretation, common
definitions, and legislative machinery for the Act.
Under section 133 of
the Legislation Act 2001, the current value of a penalty unit is $150 if
the person charged is an individual or $750 if the person charged is a
corporation.
Clause 6 – Object of Act
This clause
sets out the object of the Act which is to help victims of crime by establishing
a system for giving financial assistance to: assist victims of crime to recover
from acts of violence; contribute to the safety of victims of crime and the
prevention of future acts of violence; acknowledge the harmful effects of acts
of violence; and complement other services provided for victims of crime.
Part 2 Important concepts
This Part comprises clauses 7
to 17 and defines key words and terms used in the Act.
Clause 7
– Meaning of act of violence
Financial assistance is
only available if a person has sustained an injury, or is a related victim of a
person who has died, as a result of an act of violence.
Clause 7 defines
an act of violence as conduct that results in a person’s injury or death
that is, or happens in the course of, an offence occurring on or after
commencement of the Act.
The offence must be either a schedule 1 offence
or an offence prescribed by regulation. A schedule 1 offence is defined in the
dictionary as:
a) an offence listed in schedule 1 (Offences act of violence),
division 1.2.1 (General offences), which includes offences against the person,
sexual offences, female genital mutilation, sexual servitude, robbery and
aggravated robbery; and
b) if the victim of an offence is a relevant person
in relation to the person who carried out the offence, an offence listed in
division 1.2.2 (Domestic violence offences). The dictionary refers to section
15 of the Domestic Violence and Protection Orders Act 2008 for the
definition of relevant person.
The inclusion of domestic violence
offences, in schedule 1, division 1.2.2 extends eligibility for financial
assistance to victims of domestic violence who have not been subjected to a
physical act of violence, recognising the harmful effects of these domestic
violence offences.
The ability to prescribe offences by regulation
provides a capacity to respond to changes within the criminal law.
Clause 7(2) sets out three factors which are not relevant to deciding
whether conduct is an act of violence. For the purpose of this Act, it does not
matter whether a person responsible for the conduct has been identified, lacks
legal capacity, or has not been charged with, or found guilty of, the offence.
These factors are not required as the object of this Bill is to help
victims of crime rather than pursue a person responsible for the conduct through
the criminal justice system. It also recognises that, under clause 43 the scheme
is administered on the basis of the balance of probabilities, which is a lower
burden of proof than the criminal justice system requires to establish that an
offence has been committed.
Clause 8 – Meaning of
circumstance of aggravation for an offence
Clause 8 defines a
circumstance of aggravation for an offence to recognise: the effects of serious
injury, the circumstances in which the act of violence occurred or the
vulnerability of the victim at the time of the act of violence.
Clause
8(1)(a) provides that it is a circumstance of aggravation for an offence where
as a direct result of the offence a very serious injury that is not likely to be
permanent is caused to the primary victim.
Very serious injury is defined
in the dictionary as being an injury that results in at least one of the
following: a physical bodily impairment that is very serious; a disfigurement
that is very serious; a mental illness or mental disorder that is very serious;
or the death of a foetus. This circumstance of aggravation is intended to
recognise the pain and suffering experienced by applicants who have suffered
very serious injuries that are not likely to be permanent or may be alleviated
by treatment. It is intended that the regulation will establish a separate
recognition payment category for applicants who have suffered very serious
injuries that are likely to be permanent to recognise the profound effect of
those injuries.
Clause 8(1)(b) provides that it is a circumstance of
aggravation for an offence if the offence forms part of a series of offences
that are related. The purpose of this clause is to recognise the fear and trauma
that can be experienced by people who experience victimisation over a period of
time. Examples include, but are not limited to: offences with the same offender
and same primary victim or contemporaneous or near contemporaneous offences.
The circumstances of aggravation provided in clauses 8(1)(c) and (d)
relate to circumstances where a person carries out the offence acting in
company, or uses an offensive weapon against the primary victim. These
circumstances of aggravation recognise the heightened level of fear and trauma a
victim of crime may experience in these circumstances.
Clauses 8(1)(e)
and (f) provide circumstances of aggravation that relate to the vulnerability of
the victim at the time the offence occurred. These circumstances are where the
offence: is carried out by a person in a position of power, trust or authority
in relation to the primary victim; involves a primary victim who, when the
offence was carried out, had an impaired physical, psychological or intellectual
capacity, involves a primary victim under 18 years old or more than 65 years
old, or involves a primary victim who was pregnant.
Clause 8(2) provides
that a circumstance of aggravation identified in clause 8(1) is not a
circumstance of aggravation for an offence if the circumstance is an element of
the offence. The purpose of this clause is to ensure that the circumstance is
not considered twice for the purpose of establishing the level of financial
assistance to which a victim of crime is entitled.
The concept of
circumstance of aggravation is relied on in clause 28 Recognition payment for
primary victim and clause 44 Deciding whether applications involve related acts
of violence.
Clause 9 – Meaning of
injury
Clause 9(1)(a) provides that an injury is any of the
following: a physical injury, a mental illness and a mental disorder. Clause
9(1)(b) sets out that injury includes the aggravation, acceleration or
recurrence of any of the factors listed in clause 9(1)(a) or the contraction,
aggravation, acceleration or recurrence of a disease.
Clause 9(1)(c)
provides that if the injury occurs in the course of, or as a result of, a sexual
or domestic violence offence, injury also includes: an unplanned pregnancy, a
sense of violation, reduced sense of self-worth, increased fear or feelings of
insecurity or a reduced capacity to participate in sexual activity. By extending
eligibility to a broader range of physical and emotional responses this
provision recognises the intimate and personal nature of these offences and the
distinct impacts these offences may have on victims of crime. Clause 9(2)
defines a domestic violence offence as a schedule 1 offence for which the victim
of the offence is a relevant person.
A sexual offence is defined in the
dictionary, and means an offence against a provision of the following sections
of the Crimes Act 1900: part 3 (sexual offences); part 4 (female genital
mutilation); or part 5 (sexual servitude).
Clause 10 – Meaning
of homicide
Clause 10 defines homicide for the purpose of this
Act.
Clauses 11 and 12 – Meaning of primary victim and
Meaning of related victim
Clause 11 and 12 provide the
definitions of primary victim and related victim for the purpose of the
Act.
Clauses 13, 14 and 15 – Meaning of class A
related victim, Meaning of class B related victim and
Meaning of class C related victim
Clauses 13, 14 and 15
provide definitions of class A, class B and class C related victims.
Clause 13 provides that a class A related victim is a person who, at the
time a primary victim dies, both a dependant of the primary victim and either a
close family member of, or in a relevant relationship with, the primary victim.
A definition of dependant is provided in the dictionary of the Act.
Clauses 14 provides that a class B related victim is a person who, at
the time a primary victim dies, is financially independent of the primary victim
and either a close family member of the primary victim who has a genuine
personal relationship with the primary victim, or in a relevant relationship
with the primary victim.
Clauses 15 provides that a class C related
victim is a person who, at the time a primary victim dies, is financially
independent of the primary victim and is a family member of the primary
victim.
Clause 15(2) explains that a family member is a person who has a
genuine personal relationship with the primary victim and is either a sibling of
the primary victim (including stepsiblings and half-siblings) or, if the primary
victim was an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander person, a person who
in accordance with the primary victim’s community is regarded as a
sibling. The expanded definition of family member in clause 15(2)(b)(ii) is
designed to recognise the kinship and cultural structures of Aboriginal or
Torres Strait Islander people, and ensure that these family members are able to
access the scheme.
Clauses 14 and 15 provide that class B related
victims and class C related victims must, at the time the primary victim dies,
have had a genuine personal relationship with the primary victim. The purpose of
this requirement is to limit financial assistance, including recognition
payments, for related victims to people with whom the primary victim had a
genuine relationship. The purpose of recognition payments for related victims is
to recognise the significant loss and emotional distress caused by the death of
a person because of the genuine personal relationship between the primary victim
and the applicant.
The requirement for a genuine personal relationship
is not included for a class A related victim to recognise that some dependants
may not have a close relationship with the primary victim, but are still
financially reliant on the primary victim and will be significantly impacted by
their death. An example of this is a child who is a dependant of the primary
victim but has no genuine personal relationship with them.
The term
‘close family member’ is defined in clause 17 for the purpose of the
Act.
The term ‘relevant relationship’ is defined in the
dictionary by reference to section 15 of the Domestic Violence and Protection
Orders Act 2008.
The meanings of class A related victim, class B
related victim and class C related victim are relied on in Part 3 to set out the
eligibility for financial assistance for each class.
Clause 16
– Meaning of homicide witness
Clause 16 defines homicide
witness for the purpose of the Act.
Clause 17 – Meaning of
close family member
Clause 17 defines close family member for
the purpose of the Act.
Part 3 Financial
Assistance
Division 3.1 Eligibility
This division
comprises clauses 18 to 23 and sets out the kinds of payments that each kind of
victim of crime is eligible to apply for.
The note clarifies that in
addition to financial assistance under this part a person may also be eligible
for a funeral expense payment under part 4.
Clause 18 –
Eligibility for financial assistance
Clause 18 provides a clear
general statement of legal standing setting out that financial assistance may
only be given to a person who is eligible to apply in accordance with this
division.
Clauses 19, 20 and 21 – Primary Victim, Class A
related victim, Class B related victim
Clauses 19, 20 and 21 set out
the payments that primary victims, class A related victims and class B related
victims are eligible to apply for. Each of these categories of victim is
eligible to apply for one or more of the following: an immediate need payment,
an economic loss payment and a recognition payment.
Clauses 22
and 23 – Class C related victim, Homicide witness
Clauses 22
and 23 provide that class C related victims and homicide witnesses are eligible
to apply for one or more of the following: an immediate need payment and an
economic loss payment. These categories of victims are not eligible to apply for
a recognition payment.
Division 3.2 Amount of financial
assistance
This clause comprises clauses 24 and 25 and sets out the
maximum total financial assistance payable to a person and the CPI indexation to
be applied.
Clause 24 – Maximum total financial
assistance
Clause 24 provides that the maximum total amount of
financial assistance that may be given to a person for an application for
financial assistance is the amount prescribed by regulation.
Clause
25 – CPI indexation of certain prescribed amounts
Clause 25
provides that the following amounts prescribed by regulation must be amended
each year in line with variations in CPI that happen after the commencement of
the regulation:
• maximum total financial
assistance;
• recognition payment for primary victim;
• recognition payment for class A related victim;
and
• recognition payment for class B related victim.
Clause
25(2) prevents the amounts being reduced as a result of the CPI adjustment.
Clause 25(5) provides a definition of CPI.
An example of how adjustments
are calculated is given at the end of clause 25(4) to assist
interpretation.
Division 3.3 Financial Assistance
This
division comprises clauses 26 to 30 and sets out the purposes for which and
circumstances in which various kinds of financial assistance can be
paid.
Clause 26 – Immediate need payment
Clause 26
sets out the circumstances in which a financial payment for an immediate need
may be made and provides for certain matters relating to these payments to be
prescribed by regulation.
Immediate need payments are intended to help
victims of crime with expenses that are immediate at the time of the
application. Examples may include: home security measures for a victim of a
domestic violence offence, emergency medical treatment for a victim of an
assault offence or relocation costs for a victim of a sexual assault or a
stalking offence.
It is expected that most immediate need payments will
be made to the provider directly, or to the applicant or another person to
reimburse expenses already paid, as permitted by clause 48. Immediate need
payments may be subject to reduced application requirements in some
circumstances under clause 31(4)(a).
Clause 26(1) provides that an
immediate need payment may be made to a person for reasonable expenses incurred,
or expected to be incurred, for an immediate need that is related to an act of
violence.
Clause 26(2) provides that the ‘reasonable expense’
requirement is satisfied if payment of the expense, at the time the application
is made, is likely to: promote the recovery of the person; prevent further harm
to the person; or limit further threats to the safety of the person.
Clause 26(3) provides that a regulation may prescribe: a particular
immediate need for which an immediate need payment may be made; a condition, if
any, to making the immediate need payment; the maximum amount, if any, of the
payment for the need; and the maximum amount, if any, of all immediate need
payments that may be made in relation to a single act of
violence.
Clause 27 – Economic loss payment
Clause 27
provides that an economic loss payment may be made to a person for economic loss
sustained as a result of an act of violence. There must be a causal connection
between the economic loss sustained and the act of violence.
Clause
27(2) provides that a regulation may prescribe: economic loss for which an
economic loss payment may be paid; a condition, if any, to making the economic
loss payment; the maximum amount, if any, of the payment for the loss; and the
maximum amount, if any, of all economic loss payments that may be made in
relation to a single act of violence.
Clauses 28, 29 and 30 -
Recognition payment for primary victim, Recognition payment for class A related
victim, Recognition payment for class B related victim
Clauses 28(1),
29(1) and 30(1), respectively, provide that recognition payments may be made to
primary victims, class A related victims and class B related victims. A
recognition payment may be made for trauma experienced by the person as a result
of an act of violence.
Recognition payments are not intended to reflect
the level of compensation that a victim of crime may be entitled to at common
law or under any other legislation.
Clause 28(2) provides for a
regulation to prescribe an offence in the course of which the act of violence
must occur for a recognition payment to be made to a primary victim. The
regulation may prescribe the amount payable generally or if a circumstance of
aggravation applies to the offence or if the act of violence results in a very
serious injury that is likely to be permanent in the primary victim. Clause 8
sets out the circumstances of aggravation.
The dictionary provides that
a very serious injury means an injury that results in at least one of the
following: the loss or impairment of a bodily function that is very serious; a
disfigurement that is very serious; a mental illness or mental disorder that is
very serious; or the death of a foetus. It is expected that the commissioner
will consider whether or not the very serious injury is capable of being
alleviated by medical or other treatment when determining whether it is
permanent.
Under clauses 29(2) and 30(2) a recognition payment for a
class A related victim or a class B related victim is a payment of the amount
prescribed by regulation.
The regulation will set out, in a table
format, for all classes of victims, the types of acts of violence for which
recognition payments are payable. The table will set out the amounts payable,
including for primary victims the amounts according to whether or not the act of
violence occurred in one or more circumstance of aggravation or resulted in a
very serious and permanent injury.
Division 3.4 Applications for
financial assistance
This division comprises clauses 31 to 37 and
sets out the way in which applications must be made, time limits for making
applications, the notices that must be provided to an applicant, and the effect
of withdrawal, amendment, lapse or death on an application.
Clause 31
– Application to commissioner
Clause 31 provides that an
applicant may apply to the commissioner for financial assistance and sets out
what must be included in the application. Clause 31(2)(a) to (c) require the
application for financial assistance to be in writing, include a contact address
and indicate the financial assistance payment that the applicant wishes to
claim.
Clause 31(2)(d) requires the applicant to provide either: evidence
that the act of violence that is the subject of the application has been
reported to a police officer, or if the applicant is a special reporting class
victim, and the application does not include a claim for a recognition payment,
the evidence specified in clause 31(4).
A special reporting class victim
is defined in clause 31(3) as a primary victim:
• of a sexual
offence;
• of an offence in which the person responsible for the act of
violence was in a position of power, trust or authority in relation to the
primary victim;
• who has an impaired physical, psychological or
intellectual capacity;
• who was under 18 years of age when the act of
violence occurred; or
• who did not report the act of violence because
of threats made or intimidation by another person.
The purpose of this
provision is to recognise that there may be significant barriers to reporting
for vulnerable victims and victims of sexual offences. Many victims of sexual
offences do not report the offence to anyone. In the Final Report Family
Violence – a National Legal Response the Australian and NSW Law reform
commissions noted that only a small percentage of sexual assaults and related
offences are reported to
police.[10]
It was also noted that victims of sexual or physical violence perpetrated by
their partners are less likely to report to police than victims who did not know
the perpetrator.[11]
Two of
the Act’s objects are to assist victims of crime to recover from acts of
violence and to contribute to the safety of victims of crime and the prevention
of future acts of violence. These objects are supported by providing financial
assistance in specific situations to victims of crime who have not reported the
act of violence to police.
Clause 31(4) sets who a special reporting
class victim must report the act of violence to if they are applying for an
immediate need payment or for an economic loss payment. If a special reporting
class victim has reported the act of violence to police, they are not required
to provide evidence of additional reports under clause 31(4) to satisfy clause
31(2)(d).
Clause 31(4)(a) provides that for an application for an
immediate need payment only, the applicant must report the act of violence to at
least two of the specified categories of people to meet the reporting
requirements for an immediate need payment. The categories are: a government
agency; a doctor or a psychologist or a counsellor or a social worker; or an
appropriately qualified non-government agency. Clause 31(5) defines
‘appropriately qualified non-government agency’ as an agency
specified by the commissioner in the commissioner’s guidelines. It is
expected that the commissioner will maintain up-to-date guidelines which specify
agencies that have expertise in providing services to victims of crime and also
demonstrate robust record-keeping practices. The inclusion of reports to these
non-government agencies recognises that some victims of crime may seek support
from specialist services before engaging with a doctor, psychologist,
counsellor, social worker or government agency.
Clause 31(4)(b) requires
an applicant applying for assistance for an immediate need payment and an
economic loss payment or for an economic loss payment only, to have reported the
act to a government agency and a doctor or a psychologist or a counsellor or a
social worker.
These provisions will allow victims of crime who face
barriers to reporting crime to police to apply for an immediate need payment or
an economic loss payment. The requirement to provide evidence of a report
protects the integrity of the scheme and also encourages engagement with support
services.
Clause 32 – Time for making
application
Clause 32(1) requires an application to be made within
three years of the last occurring of the following: the day of the act of
violence that is the subject of the application; if there are two or more
relevant acts of violence, the day of the most recent act of violence, or if the
applicant was under 18 years of age when the act of violence occurred the day
the applicant turns 18.
Clause 32(2) allows the commissioner to extend
the time for making an application if there are reasonable grounds to believe
that it is in the interests of fairness. When making this decision the
commissioner must have regard to the matters identified in clauses
32(2)(a)-33(2)(f).
The purpose of this provision is to recognise that the
impact of the act of violence and the person’s vulnerability may mean that
the person is not able to make an application within the time period imposed by
clause 32(1). This is particularly the case for victims of sexual offences,
domestic violence offences and offences where the victim was vulnerable at the
time of the act of violence. 66% of all sexual assault victims referred to
Victim Support ACT in 2014-15 were under the age of 18 at the time of the
incident; however the average age at the time of referral was 29 for victims who
were below 10 years of age at the time of the incident and 26 for children aged
between 10 and 17 years at the time of the incident. This indicates that most
victims did not access the service until years after the incident, when they
were adults.[12]
Clause 33
– Notice of repayment and recovery procedures
Clause 33(1)
requires the commissioner to provide written notice about the action that may be
taken under part 5 (Repayment of financial assistance and funeral expenses by
assisted person) or part 6 (Recovery from offender) as soon as practicable after
the application is received.
Clause 33(2) requires the commissioner to
state in the notice that if financial assistance is given to the applicant, the
person responsible for the act of violence that is the subject of the
application may be contacted to recover some or all of the financial assistance
given.
The purpose of this clause is to ensure that an applicant is made
aware as early as possible about their obligations under part 5 (Repayment of
financial assistance and funeral expenses by assisted person) and the
possibility that the offender may be contacted and required to repay under part
6 (Recovery from offender) to allow applicants to make a fully informed decision
about whether they wish to proceed with an application. It is expected that
information about clause 73 (Commissioner must consult assisted person before
giving recovery intention notice to the offender) will be provided within this
notice.
Clauses 34 and 35 – Withdrawal of application,
Amendment of application before commissioner’s decision
Clause
34 provides that an applicant may withdraw an application for financial
assistance at any time. However, once the commissioner has decided the amount of
financial assistance under section 46 and given the financial assistance to the
applicant, withdrawal is no longer possible as the application is finalised and
the applicant becomes an assisted person.
Clause 35 provides that an
applicant may amend an application at any time before the commissioner has
decided the application. After the commissioner has decided the application, an
applicant is able to make an application to increase the amount of financial
assistance received under Division 3.7. Part 5 deals with situations where some
or all of the amount of financial assistance given is required to be repaid.
An applicant may withdraw or amend an application by written notice
given to the commissioner.
Clause 36 – Application lapses if no
contact with commissioner
Clause 36 provides a structure under which
applications are deemed to have lapsed when certain circumstances are met.
Clause 36(1) provides that clause 36 applies if an applicant does not
contact the commissioner within 6 months after the day the commissioner gives
notice under clause 33 (Notice of repayment and recovery procedures).
Clause 36(2) requires the commissioner to provide written notice to an
applicant that the application will lapse under clause 36(3) if they do not make
contact with the commissioner within 6 months. In total, 12 months must have
passed without contact from the applicant before the application
lapses.
Contact with the commissioner is defined in the dictionary as
including contact with a member of the staff of the commissioner or a delegate
of the commissioner. If an application does lapse, the applicant may reapply
for financial assistance, subject to clause 32 (Time for making application).
The purpose of this provision is to ensure that the commissioner is able
to progress applications in a timely manner and to prevent applications from
remaining open indefinitely.
Clause 37 – Application lapses on
death of applicant
Clause 37 sets out that if an applicant for
financial assistance dies before the application is finally decided the
application lapses.
Division 3.5 Commissioner may ask for information
when deciding applications for financial assistance
This division
comprises clauses 38 to 41 and sets out the commissioner’s powers to ask
for information from various sources when deciding applications for financial
assistance.
Clause 38 – Power to ask for further
information
Clause 38(a) provides the commissioner with power to make
any inquiries that the commissioner believes on reasonable grounds are relevant
to the application. Under clause 38(b) the commissioner has the power to ask the
applicant for further specific information about the application or an
authorisation to obtain further information about the application from another
person.
The purpose of this clause is to ensure that the commissioner
has access to sufficient information, from a variety of sources, when deciding
applications for financial assistance. It is vital that the commissioner has the
ability to verify and seek further evidence to support an
application.
Clause 39 – Power to ask for examination by health
practitioner
Clause 39(1) provides the commissioner with power to ask
the applicant to submit to an examination by a health practitioner and for a
report of that examination to be given to the commissioner. Health practitioner
is defined in the Legislation Act 2001. Clause 39(2) allows the health
practitioner to provide a report and other relevant information to the
commissioner. If the commissioner asks for an examination by a health
practitioner, clause 39(3) requires the commissioner to pay for the examination.
The purpose of this clause is to ensure the commissioner has access to
further medical information from a qualified health practitioner for the purpose
of deciding an application. The commissioner is required to pay for the
examination so that this significant expense, which is for the purpose of
assisting the commissioner to decide applications does not fall on applicants,
many of whom may not have the capacity to pay for a medical examination.
Clause 40 – Power to ask for information from chief police
officer
Clause 40 provides the commissioner with power to ask the
chief police officer or an investigating police officer (the requested officer)
for certain information about an act of violence when deciding an application
for financial assistance and also provides details about the circumstances in
which information may be shared.
Clause 40(1)(a) provides that the
commissioner may ask for the following information and documents about the act
of violence that is the subject of the application:
• the facts;
• the progress of an investigation;
• if a proceeding is not
started, the reasons for not starting a proceeding;
• if a proceeding
is started, details of the charges laid; the place and date of the hearing of
the proceeding; the outcome of the proceeding including any sentence imposed;
the outcome of any appeal; and if the proceeding is discontinued, the reasons
for discontinuing the proceeding.
Clause 40(1)(b) provides that the
commissioner may also request a copy of any person’s statement about the
act of violence that is the subject of the application. Clause 40(1)(c)
provides that the commissioner may request clarification about any of the
information mentioned in clause 40(1)(a) including any changes to information
previously provided.
Clause 40(2) requires the requested officer to
comply with a request under clause 40(1) if the officer has possession of or
access to the information or documents requested.
The purpose of clauses
40(1) and (2) is to ensure that the commissioner has access to further
information held by police about the act of violence. The information and
documents that may be requested under this clause are limited to information and
documents that directly relate to the act of violence that is the subject of the
application.
Clause 40(3) provides that the requested officer must not
comply with the request under clause 40(1) if the officer believes on reasonable
grounds that giving the information may prejudice an investigation to which the
information may be relevant, lead to the identification of an informer or affect
the safety of any person. If the requested officer decides that the request
cannot be complied with, clause 40(4) requires the officer to notify the
commissioner and give reasons for not complying with the request.
The
purpose of this provision is to ensure that the need for the commissioner to
have access to information relevant to deciding applications for financial
assistance is balanced with the need to maintain the integrity of police
investigations and ensure the safety of any person is not placed at risk.
Clause 40(5) requires the requested officer to remove all particulars
identifying the maker of a statement mentioned in clause 40(1)(b) except
particulars the officer believes are relevant to assist the commissioner to
decide the application.
The purpose of this clause is to ensure that the
commissioner receives only the information required to make a decision and
private information is not shared for purposes other than deciding applications
for financial assistance.
Clause 40(6) provides that giving information
or documents under this clause is authorised despite any other territory law.
Clause 40(7) defines investigating police officer for the purposes of clause 40.
Clause 41 – Power to ask for information from
registrar
Clause 41(1) provides the commissioner with power to ask
the registrar for information about a proceeding started for the act of violence
that is the subject of the application. Registrar is defined in the
Legislation Act 2001.
The purpose of this clause is to ensure
that the commissioner has access to further information held by the registrar
about the act of violence.
Clause 41(2) allows the commissioner to
request information about: the charges laid against the person alleged to have
engaged in the act of violence; the charges laid against another person alleged
to have conspired with the person alleged to have engaged in the act of violence
that is the subject of the application; the place and date of hearing of the
proceeding; the outcome of the proceeding including any sentence imposed; and
the outcome of any appeal.
Clause 41(3) requires the registrar to give
the information to the commissioner unless the registrar is satisfied on
reasonable grounds that the giving of the information is either contrary to a
law in force in the Territory, or otherwise inappropriate. Clause 41(4) allows
information to be provided by allowing the commissioner access to electronic
information maintained by the registrar. Clause 41(5) provides that the
electronic information may only be used in connection with the information
requested under clause 41(2).
The purpose of clauses 41(2) to (5) is to
set out the circumstances in which information may be shared. These clauses also
ensure that the information that may be requested is limited to information that
directly relates to the act of violence that is the subject of the application
and private information is not shared for purposes other than deciding
applications for financial assistance.
Division 3.6 Deciding
applications for financial assistance
This division comprises clauses
42 to 48 and sets out how applications for financial assistance are to be
decided by the commissioner.
Clause 42 – Time for deciding
application for financial assistance
This provision sets out the
requirements of the commissioner in relation to timeframes for deciding
applications.
Clause 42(1) requires the commissioner to decide
applications for financial assistance as soon as reasonably practicable after
receiving the application, or if further information is requested, upon
receiving that information. It is expected that in practice, the commissioner
will actively case manage applications to ensure they are progressed and
finalised as quickly as possible, taking into account the time required to
obtain information and evidence needed to make decisions.
Clause 42(2)
requires the commissioner to give priority to a decision about an application
that includes a claim for an immediate need payment and to decide that claim
before deciding any other claim in the application if an application, for
financial assistance includes a claim for an immediate need payment.
The
purpose of this clause is to ensure that an applicant’s immediate health
and safety needs are given priority. This clause supports the objects of
assisting victims of crime to recover from acts of violence and contribute to
the safety of victims of crime and the prevention of future acts of violence set
out in clause 6(a) and (b) of the Bill. Examples of situations where this clause
will apply include: a victim of a serious assault requiring an immediate
surgical procedure to ensure recovery is possible, or a domestic violence victim
who needs to relocate because of a serious risk to their safety.
Clause 43 – Deciding matters relevant to application for
financial assistance generally
This clause provides the legal
standard of proof that the commissioner must be satisfied of when making
decisions under the Act. Clause 43 requires the commissioner to be satisfied on
the balance of probabilities about the existence of any matter relevant to
deciding an application for financial assistance. Clause 43 also provides a non
exhaustive list of examples of a matter relevant to an application for financial
assistance.
Clause 44 – Deciding whether applications involve
related acts of violence
This provision sets the process for the
commissioner to determine whether applications involve related acts of violence,
and when they should be treated as a single application.
Clause 44(1)
provides that clause 44 applies if a person makes two or more separate
applications under division 3.4 (Applications for financial assistance).
Clause 44(2) requires the commissioner to review the applications to
work out if the applications are for acts of violence that occur in the course
of a series of offences that are related. Some examples of what may constitute a
series of offences that are related are provided to assist in
interpretation.
Clause 44(3) provides circumstances in which acts of
violence that occur in the course of a series of offences that are related must
be treated as a single act of violence. These circumstances are: if the series
of offences are, or are likely to be, part of a single ongoing offence; if the
effect of treating each act of violence separately would result in the applicant
receiving a total amount of financial assistance that would be
disproportionately more than the amount of financial assistance that would be
appropriate for the totality of harm suffered by the applicant; or other
circumstances prescribed by regulation.
The purpose of this clause is to
ensure that the totality of the circumstances is considered and related offences
are not considered in isolation. This supports the recommendation made by the
joint Australian Law Reform Commission and New South Wales Law Reform Commission
report ‘Family violence – A national legal response’ that
victims compensation legislation should not provide that acts are
‘related’ merely because they are committed by the same offender,
and should provide that victims have the opportunity to object if claims are to
be treated as related.[13]
Clause 44(4) requires the commissioner to give the applicant written
notice if the commissioner is satisfied that the acts of violence that are the
subject of separate applications appear to be a single act of violence. Clause
44(4)(a) sets out that the notice must state that the separate applications
appear to disclose a series of offences that are related, and that without
further information suggesting otherwise the acts of violence occurring in the
course of the offences must be treated as a single act of violence. Clause
44(4)(b) provides that the notice must ask the applicant to tell the
commissioner in writing within 14 days after the notice is received, if there is
a reason why the acts of violence should not be treated as a single act of
violence.
This clause is intended to ensure the applicant has an
opportunity to provide further information before a decision is made, as a
decision to treat acts of violence as a single application may significantly
impact on the applicant’s eligibility for financial assistance and the
decision making process. The opportunity to provide further information is in
addition to rights of review identified in part 9.
Clause 44(5) provides
that after considering any reasons given by the applicant, in response to the
notice, the commissioner must decide whether or not to treat the acts of
violence as a single act of violence and provide written notice of the decision
to the applicant.
Clause 44(6) provides that if the commissioner decides
to treat the acts of violence as a single act of violence the separate
applications are taken to be a single application for financial assistance.
Clause 44(7) provides that if the commissioner decides to treat the
separate applications as a single application and the application includes a
primary victim’s claim for a recognition payment, the commissioner must
decide whether the acts of violence amount to a circumstance of aggravation as
defined in clause 8 to inform a determination under clause 28.
The
applicant will also have an external right of review to the ACT Civil and
Administrative Tribunal under part 9. This supports the recommendation made by
the joint Australian Law Reform Commission and New South Wales Law Reform
Commission report ‘Family violence – A national legal
response’ that victims have the opportunity to object to the decision to
treat their applications as a single
application.[14]
Clause
45 – Circumstances in which financial assistance must not be
given
This clause identifies disqualifying circumstances in which
financial assistance must not be given and sets out a process for determining
when this applies. The intent of the clause is to ensure the scheme benefits
victims of crime, and that criminal conduct does not result in gaining a benefit
from the scheme. The disqualifying circumstances identified in this clause are
based on more serious criminal conduct than the contributory conduct which leads
to a reduction under clause 47(2).
Clause 45(1) applies if the
commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that any of the disqualifying
circumstances apply in relation to an applicant for financial assistance.
Disqualifying circumstances are that: the applicant is not eligible for the
assistance; the applicant conspired with the person responsible for the act of
violence; the applicant was involved in a serious crime when the act of violence
occurred and the crime was the main reason it occurred; the applicant is
claiming as a related victim and the act of violence relates to a serious crime
carried out by the primary victim; and the applicant has unreasonably failed to
give assistance to the police in relation to the act of violence that is the
subject of the application.
Clause 45(2) requires the commissioner to
provide the applicant with written notice: that the application appears to
involve a disqualifying circumstance described in the notice; that without
further information the applicant will not receive financial assistance; and
asking the applicant to tell the commissioner in writing within 14 days after
the notice is received, if there is a reason why the disqualifying circumstance
does not apply.
This clause is intended to ensure the applicant has an
opportunity to provide further information to the commissioner before a decision
is made to refuse to grant financial assistance to the applicant. This
additional opportunity is provided, in addition to rights of review, because of
the significance of a decision not to grant assistance and to ensure that this
decision is only made when all relevant and available information has been
considered.
Clause 45(3) requires the commissioner to consider any
reasons given by the applicant in response to the notice, decide whether or not
the disqualifying circumstance applies in relation to the applicant, and tell
the applicant the commissioner’s decision by written notice.
Clause 45(4) prohibits the commissioner from giving financial assistance
to the applicant if the commissioner decides that a disqualifying circumstance
applies in relation to an applicant.
Clause 45(5) provides a definition
of serious crime for the purposes of deciding if an offender was injured during
the course of a serious offence under clause 45(1)(c) or (d).
Clause
46 – Deciding the amount of financial assistance
Clause 46 sets
out the way in which the commissioner decides the amount of financial
assistance.
Clause 46 requires the commissioner to decide the amount of
financial assistance that may be given to an applicant for financial assistance
if the commissioner; believes on reasonable grounds that the applicant is
eligible to apply; is satisfied that the application complies with division 3.4
(Applications for financial assistance); and has decided no disqualifying
circumstances apply in relation to the applicant.
Clause 46(2) sets out
the process the commissioner must go through when deciding applications that
include a claim for an immediate need payment, and economic loss payment or a
recognition payment.
If the application includes a claim for an
immediate need payment, clause 46(2)(a) requires the commissioner to: consider
the services available to the applicant under the victims services scheme or
other sources; decide the immediate needs the applicant has; decide the maximum
amount of financial assistance to which the applicant is entitled for immediate
needs; and decide the immediate need payment to be made to the applicant. The
amount an applicant is entitled to for an immediate need payment is subject to
clause 26 (Immediate need payment).
If the application includes a claim
for an economic loss payment, clause 46(2)(b) requires the commissioner to:
consider the services available to the applicant under the victims services
scheme or other sources; decide the applicant’s economic loss; and decide
the economic loss payment to be made to the applicant. The amount an applicant
is entitled to for an economic loss payment is subject to clause 27.
The
requirement for the commissioner to consider the extent to which services are
available to the applicant under the victims services scheme and from other
sources, supports the object of the Bill in clause 6(d) that the scheme is
designed to complement other services provided for victims of crime. An example
is when ACT Housing is able to assist a related victim by providing crime scene
clean up after a homicide.
If an application includes a claim for a
recognition payment, clause 46(2)(c) requires the commissioner to: identify the
act of violence that is the subject of the application; for a primary victim
decide whether the act of violence occurs in a circumstance of aggravation;
decide whether the act of violence caused a very serious injury that is likely
to be permanent; and decide the recognition payment to be made to the applicant.
The amount an applicant is entitled to for a recognition payment is subject to
clause 28(2)(b).
Clause 46(2)(c) ensures that the commissioner considers
all elements that make up a recognition payment, including any relevant
circumstance of aggravation or a very serious injury that is likely to be
permanent under clause 28(2)(b). These elements are designed to recognise the
harmful effects of acts of violence on individual victims.
After
considering the relevant factors set out in clauses 46(2)(a) to (c), clause
46(d) requires the commissioner to reduce the amount in accordance with clause
47 if that clause applies.
Clause 46(3) provides that the commissioner
must tell the applicant by written notice of the commissioner’s decision.
Clause 47 – Reducing amount of financial
assistance
This clause sets out when the commissioner must make a
reduction to the amount of financial assistance payable under clause 46. The
purpose of a reduction is to ensure that applicants do not receive payments for
the same loss or harm from more than one source and to ensure the integrity of
the scheme by acknowledging any contribution the applicant may have made to the
injury or the act of violence that is the subject of the application.
Clause 47(1)(a) provides that clause 47 applies if the commissioner
believes on reasonable grounds that, for an act of violence that is the subject
of an application for financial assistance, the applicant has received an
associated payment covering the same harm or loss as the financial assistance is
intended to cover.
The dictionary provides a definition of associated
payment. The dictionary states that an associated payment to a person who has
received, or is eligible to receive, financial assistance or a funeral expenses
payment means an amount that has been paid to the applicant (or to another
person for the applicant) as a result of an act of violence that is the subject
of the applicant’s application. This includes: an award of damages in a
civil proceeding; a payment under a workers compensation law; and an insurance
payment or a payment made under a reparation order under the Crimes
(Sentencing) Act 2005. Any amount that is payable under this bill, for
example an amount paid under part 4 (Funeral expenses), is not an associated
payment.
Clause 47(1)(b) and (c) provide that clause 47 applies if the
commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that the applicant has previously
been required to repay an amount under either part 5 (Repayment of Financial
Assistance and funeral expenses) or part 6 (Recovery from offender) and has not
repaid that amount. This allows the commissioner to ensure that the scheme
recovers amounts owed by an applicant prior to providing further financial
assistance to that applicant.
Clause 47(1)(d) provides that clause 47
applies if the commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that the applicant
has been involved in contributory conduct.
Clause 47(3) provides a
definition of contributory conduct covering conduct by the applicant: that
contributed to the injury suffered by the applicant; participating in or
assisting in the act of violence; encouraging someone else to participate in or
assist the act of violence; or failing to take reasonable steps to mitigate the
extent of injury.
The intent of recognising the applicant’s
contribution, participation or encouragement, is to recognise that the
applicant’s conduct, whilst not serious enough to prevent the applicant
from seeking assistance, did contribute in some way to the act of violence.
Failing to take reasonable steps to mitigate the extent of injury is
intended to apply to deliberate acts by the applicant that increase the severity
of an injury. For example, if an applicant refuses to accept any treatment for a
very serious injury and as a result of that refusal the injury becomes a very
serious permanent injury, the commissioner may decide to reduce the amount of
financial assistance and award the amount available for a recognition payment
for a very serious injury that is not permanent.
If clause 47 applies,
clause 47(2) requires the commissioner to reduce the amount of financial
assistance given to the applicant by an amount. If the circumstances mentioned
in clause 47(1)(a) apply, the commissioner must reduce the amount of financial
assistance by an amount equal to the associated payment. If circumstances
mentioned in clause 47(1)(b) or (c) apply, the commissioner must reduce the
amount of financial assistance by an amount equal to the outstanding repayment
amount. If circumstances mentioned in subsection 47(1)(d) apply, the
commissioner must reduce the amount of financial assistance by an amount that
the commissioner is satisfied is appropriate taking into account the
applicant’s contributory conduct.
Clause 48 – How
financial assistance may be given
Clause 48 sets out the ways in
which the commissioner can make a payment of financial assistance if the
commissioner has decided that financial assistance should be given to the
applicant.
The intention of this clause is to allow the commissioner
the flexibility to make payments of financial assistance in a range of ways. It
is expected that, wherever possible, payments will be made directly to service
or treatment providers to support accountability and efficiency.
Division 3.7 Variation of amount of financial
assistance
This division comprises clauses 49 and 50 and provides a
process for applications to vary the amount of financial assistance given to an
applicant.
Clause 49 – Application to vary amount of financial
assistance previously received
Clause 49(1) allows a person to apply
to the commissioner to vary an amount of financial assistance received by the
person only if, the person’s circumstances have changed or are likely to
change, since the earlier assistance payment.
The purpose of this clause
is to support the objects of the act by responding to changes in a
person’s circumstances. For example, a person who was given financial
assistance as a special reporting class victim who later reports the offence to
police, may apply to vary the amount of financial assistance received to include
a recognition payment. Another example is where a person requires further
medical treatment that was not required at the time the financial assistance was
given.
Clause 49(2) sets out the requirements for making an application
under clause 49. The application must: be made within 7 years after the
commissioner first gives financial assistance to the person. The application
must also state particulars about: the earlier assistance payment; the variation
sought to the earlier assistance payment; the act of violence to which the
earlier assistance payment relates; how the person’s circumstances have
changed or are likely to change; and include any other information prescribed by
regulation.
Clause 49(3) provides that only 1 application may be made in
a year unless the commissioner is reasonably satisfied that exceptional
circumstances exist to allow more than 1 application to be made in the year.
Clause 50 – Deciding varied amount of financial assistance
Clause 50(1) provides that if the commissioner receives an
application under clause 49 the commissioner must decide whether to refuse or
agree to increase the amount of financial assistance to the applicant. If the
commissioner agrees to increase the amount, the commissioner must work out the
amount of the increase.
Clause 50(2) sets out that if the commissioner
decides to increase the amount of financial assistance, the total amount of all
financial assistance to the applicant must not, after the increase is given, be
more than the maximum financial assistance amounts that applied when financial
assistance was first given.
Clause 50(3) provides that division 3.5
(Commissioner may ask for information when deciding applications for financial
assistance) and division 3.6 (Deciding applications for financial assistance)
apply to the commissioner when deciding an application under clause 49 as if a
reference to an application for financial assistance was a reference to a
variation application. The purpose of this clause is to ensure decision making
requirements are consistent.
Clause 50(4) requires the commissioner to
tell the person by written notice the commissioner’s decision under clause
50(1) and arrange for payment of any increased amount.
Part
4 Funeral expenses
This part comprises clauses 51 to 61 and sets out
the process for making an application for a funeral expense payment and the
circumstances in which a funeral expense payment may be made.
Clause
51 – Eligibility to apply for funeral expense payment
Clause 51
sets out the eligibility criteria for an application for a funeral expense
payment. A person may apply if the person has paid, or is required to pay, the
costs of a funeral for a primary victim who died as a result of
homicide.
This part is not limited to persons who have a familial or
personal relationship with the primary victim of a homicide. Any person who has
paid or is required to pay for the funeral of a primary victim of homicide is
able to obtain a funeral expense payment under this part. It is expected that a
large proportion of payments will be made directly to the service
provider.
Clauses 52, 53 and 54 – Application for funeral
expense payment, Amount of funeral expense payment and Time for making
application for funeral expense payment
Clause 52 requires an
application for a funeral expense payment to be made in writing; include a
contact address for the person making the application; contain any other
information, and comply with any other requirement prescribed by regulation for
the application.
Clause 53 provides that the maximum amount of a funeral
expense payment is the lesser of the reasonable costs of a funeral that is the
subject of the application and the amount prescribed by regulation as the
maximum funeral expense payment.
Clause 54 provides that an application
made under clause 52 must be made within 3 years after the death of the primary
victim.
Clause 55 – Notice of repayment and recovery procedures
to applicant for funeral expense payment
Clause 55(1) requires the
commissioner to provide written notice about the action that may be taken under
part 5 (Repayment of financial assistance and funeral expenses by assisted
person) or part 6 (Recovery from offender) as soon as practicable after the
application is received.
Clause 55(2) requires the commissioner to state
in the notice that if a funeral expense payment is made to the applicant, the
person responsible for the act of violence that is the subject of the
application may be contacted to recover some or all of the payment.
The
purpose of this clause is to ensure that an applicant is made aware as early as
possible about their obligations under part 5 (Repayment of financial assistance
and funeral expenses by assisted person) and the possibility that the offender
may be contacted and required to repay under part 6 (Recovery from offender). It
is expected that information about clause 73 (Commissioner must consult assisted
person before giving recovery intention notice to offender) will be provided
within this notice to allow applicants to make a fully informed decision about
whether they wish to proceed with an application.
Clauses 56 and 57
– Withdrawal of application for funeral expense payment and Amendment of
application before commissioner’s decision for funeral expense
payment
Clauses 56 and 57 provide that an applicant may withdraw an
application for a funeral expense payment at any time, or amend an application
at any time before the commissioner has decided the application, by written
notice given to the commissioner.
Clause 58 – Application for
funeral expense payment lapses if no contact with commissioner
Clause
58 provides a structure under which applications are deemed to have lapsed when
certain circumstances are met.
Clause 58(1) provides that clause 58
applies if an applicant does not contact the commissioner for 6 months after the
day the commissioner gave notice under clause 55 (Notice of repayment and
recovery procedures to applicant for funeral expense payment).
Clause
58(2) requires the commissioner to provide written notice to an applicant that
their application will lapse under clause 58(3) if the applicant does not make
contact within 6 months. In total, 12 months must have passed without contact
from the applicant before the application lapses.
Contact with the
commissioner is defined in the dictionary as including contact with a member of
the staff of the commissioner or a delegate of the commissioner. If an
application does lapse, the applicant may reapply for a funeral expense payment,
subject to clause 54 (Time for making application for funeral expense payment).
The purpose of this provision is to ensure that the commissioner is able
to progress applications in a timely manner and to prevent applications from
remaining on foot indefinitely.
Clause 59 – Application lapses
on death of applicant for funeral expense payment
Clause 59 sets out
that if an applicant for a funeral expense payment dies before the application
is finally decided, the application lapses.
Clause 60 – Deciding
application for funeral expense payment
Clause 60 requires the
commissioner to decide whether a funeral expense payment is payable and if the
payment is payable, the amount of the funeral expense payment.
Clause
60(2) provides that division 3.5 (Commissioner may ask for information when
deciding applications for financial assistance) and 3.6 (Deciding applications
for financial assistance) apply to the commissioner when deciding an application
under clause 52 as if a reference to an application for financial assistance was
a reference to a funeral expense payment application. The purpose of this clause
is to ensure that decision making processes are consistent.
Clause 60(3)
requires the commissioner to tell the applicant, by written notice, the
commissioner’s decision.
Clause 61 – How funeral expense
payment may be given
Clause 61 sets out the ways in which the
commissioner can make a funeral expense payment if the commissioner has decided
the amount of a funeral expense payment.
The intention of this clause
is to allow the commissioner the flexibility to make funeral expense payments in
a range of ways. It is expected that payments will be made directly to service
providers wherever possible to support accountability and efficiency.
Part 5 - Repayment of financial assistance and funeral expenses by
assisted person
This Part comprises clauses 62 to 68, which set out
when a financial assistance or funeral expense payment may be suspended, and the
process for repayment by an assisted person.
A person who has received
financial assistance under this Bill is required to repay money to the scheme if
an associated payment is later received covering the same loss or harm. This
part sets up a process by which the commissioner and assisted person can
negotiate for repayment through an agreed arrangement.
The purpose of
this part is to avoid a person receiving payments covering the same harm or loss
from multiple sources and to support one of the objects of the Bill in clause 6,
which is to complement other services provided for victims of crime.
Clause 62 – Definitions – pt 5
Clause 62
defines the key terms: repayment amount, repayment arrangement notice, and
repayment direction notice for the purposes of this part.
The meaning of
an associated payment, which is relied on in the definition of repayment amount,
and defined in the dictionary, is discussed above in relation to clause
47.
Clause 63 – Suspension of financial assistance or funeral
expense payment
Clause 63 applies if: a person has applied for
financial assistance under part 3 (Financial assistance) or a funeral expense
payment under part 4 (Funeral expenses); the commissioner has decided the amount
of financial assistance that the applicant is entitled to receive under section
46 or section 60; and the commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that the
applicant is entitled to receive an associated payment in relation to the act of
violence that is the subject of the application.
Under clause 63(2) the
commissioner may suspend payment of any financial assistance or funeral expense
payment, until after the associated payment is made, if the commissioner
believes on reasonable grounds that the applicant is entitled to receive a
payment that will amount to an associated payment. The intent of this clause is
to allow the commissioner to wait until an associated payment is made so that
the relevant reduction to the amount of financial assistance can be determined
under clause 47 (Reducing amount of financial assistance).
Under clause
63(3), if the commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that, despite an
entitlement to an associated payment, the payment is unlikely to be made, the
commissioner may decide not to suspend payment of any financial assistance or
funeral expense payment.
Clause 64 – Assisted person must
notify commissioner about associated payment
Clause 64 sets out the
actions an assisted person must take if they receive an associated payment after
financial assistance is given or a funeral expense payment is made.
Clause 64(2) requires the assisted person to tell the commissioner in
writing about the associated payment within 28 days after the associated payment
is received.
Clause 64(3) creates an offence if an assisted person who is
required to comply with clause 64(2) fails to tell the commissioner about the
associated payment. The maximum penalty is 50 penalty units, imprisonment for 6
months or both. The purpose of this offence is to ensure that the commissioner
is notified of associated payments to enable repayment processes to be
commenced, and to promote compliance with the notice
requirement.
Clause 65 – Assisted person liable for repayment
amount
This clause provides a clear statement of when an assisted
person is liable to pay a repayment amount, where the person has been issued a
repayment direction notice under clause 67.
Clause 65(1) applies if an
assisted person: receives an associated payment after receiving financial
assistance or a funeral expense payment; is given a repayment direction notice;
and does not, on or before the repayment date either pay the repayment amount or
apply for a review of the repayment direction notice.
Clause 65(2)
provides that the assisted person is liable to pay the repayment amount to the
Territory. Clause 65(3) provides that the repayment amount is a debt due to the
Territory, payable by the assisted person.
Clause 66 –
Repayment arrangement notice
Clause 66 requires the commissioner to
provide a written repayment arrangement notice to the assisted person as soon as
practicable after receiving information about the associated payment.
Clause 66(1) identifies what information the commissioner must include
in the repayment arrangement notice to identify the amount to be repaid and make
arrangements for repayment.
Clause 66(2) requires an assisted person who
receives a repayment arrangement notice to contact the commissioner within 28
days to either make an arrangement to pay the repayment amount or vary the
repayment amount.
Clause 66(3) requires the commissioner to take the
circumstances of the assisted person into account when deciding an arrangement
for repayment or variation of a repayment amount. The intention of this
provision is to ensure any repayment arrangements do not cause hardship for
victims of crime.
Clause 67 – Repayment direction
notice
Clause 67 applies if the commissioner has given an assisted
person a repayment arrangement notice and the assisted person has not within 28
days, made contact with the commissioner or paid the repayment
amount.
Clause 67(2) requires the commissioner to give the assisted
person a repayment direction notice and identifies what information the
commissioner must include in the repayment direction notice.
Clause
67(3) requires an assisted person who receives a notice under clause 67(2) to
pay the commissioner the repayment amount or apply to the ACT Civil and
Administrative Tribunal for a review on or before the repayment date.
Clause 67(4) provides that an assisted person’s liability to pay
is stayed if the applicant applies for a review under clause 67(3). Clause 67(5)
provides the stay of liability is removed if an assisted person’s
application under clause 67(3) is dismissed by the ACT Civil and Administrative
Tribunal.
Clause 68 – Death of assisted person before
repayment made
Clause 68 provides that the commissioner must not seek
to recover an outstanding recovery amount from the estate of an assisted person.
The purpose of this clause is to provide a consistent approach in
situations where an applicant or assisted person dies prior to payment or
repayment being made. Clause 37 prevents an applicant’s estate from
obtaining the financial assistance the assisted person was eligible for; clause
68 in turn prevents the commissioner from obtaining a repayment amount that an
assisted person was liable for.
Part 6 Recovery from offender
This part comprises clauses 69 to 79 and sets out the process for
recovery action to recover a recoverable amount from an offender.
The
policy intent is that, as a result of the harm caused to their victim, the
offender should contribute to the financial cost of the scheme.
This
part provides a two stage process of review to ensure that offenders have the
opportunity to respond before a recovery notice is issued, and to provide
offenders with access to external review of certain decisions.
Clause
69 – Definitions – pt 6
Clause 69 defines key words and
terms used in this part.
Clause 70 – Offender liable to repay
recoverable amount
This clause provides a clear statement of when an
offender is liable to pay the recoverable amount.
Clause 70(1) provides
that clause 70 applies if the offender receives a recovery notice for a
recoverable amount and the offender does not, on or before the recovery date,
either pay the recoverable amount or apply for a review of the recovery notice.
Clause 70(2) provides that an offender is liable to pay a recoverable
amount to the Territory. Clause 70(3) provides that the recoverable amount is a
debt due to the Territory, payable by the offender.
Clause 71 –
Commissioner must decide whether to take recovery action etc
This
clause sets out when the commissioner must recover a recoverable amount, when a
recoverable amount should be reduced and liability in circumstances where two or
more offenders have committed a recompensed offence.
Clause 71(1)
provides that the commissioner must, as far as practicable, recover a
recoverable amount from an offender who is liable to pay the amount.
Clause 71(2) provides that if 2 or more offenders have been convicted or
found guilty of a recompensed offence each of the offenders is jointly and
severally liable under this part. Clause 71(3) provides that if 2 or more
offenders have been convicted or found guilty of a recompensed offence the
commissioner may apportion the amount each offender must pay to the Territory.
The intention is that clauses 71(2) and (3) will allow the commissioner
multiple options for recovering an amount when there is more than one offender.
It is expected that this will include recovering the full recoverable amount
from one offender, apportioning the recoverable amount equally between offenders
or apportioning the recoverable amount in some other way. When making decisions
under these clauses, it is expected that the commissioner will have regard to
any objections made by the offender under clause 74, court decisions about
relative culpability as well as an offender’s capacity to pay.
Clauses 71(4) and 71(5) require the commissioner to decide whether an
amount should be reduced if the commissioner has decided to recover a
recoverable amount and take into account the amount of any repayment by the
assisted person under part 5.
Clause 72 – Commissioner must
assess risks associated with recovery action
Clause 72 lists the
factors that the commissioner is required to consider before taking or
continuing recovery action. The commissioner must consider: the objective risks
to the safety of any person as a result of recovery action and the subjective
concerns of an assisted person about the commissioner’s contact with an
offender or recovery action generally.
The purpose of this clause is to
minimise the risk that seeking recovery of an amount may compromise the safety
or welfare of an applicant or any other person. The objects of the Act relate to
the recovery, safety and acknowledgment of victims of crime. The recovery of an
amount under this part is secondary to the continuing safety and wellbeing of a
victim of crime or another person.
Clause 73 – Commissioner must
consult assisted person before giving recovery intention notice to
offender
Clause 73 requires the commissioner to tell, by written
notice, each assisted person to whom the offence that is the subject of the
recovery notice relates, about the recovery action, contact with the offender
and the consultation period as identified in clauses 73(1)(a) to (c).
Clauses 73(1)(a) and (b) require the commissioner to tell the assisted
person that the commissioner is taking recovery action and that the commissioner
will contact the offender to give the offender a recovery notice.
Clause
73(1)(c) requires the commissioner to tell the assisted person that the assisted
person must tell the commissioner, in writing within 28 days, whether the
person has any concerns about the commissioner contacting the offender or the
action generally.
Clause 73(2) provides that the commissioner must, after
the end of the consultation period specified in clause 73(1)(c) take into
account the matters raised, if any, by an assisted person.
The purpose
of this clause is to ensure that an assisted person is provided an opportunity
to raise any concerns and have those concerns considered prior to a recovery
notice being given to an offender. The clause also supports the objects of
assisting victims of crime to recover from acts of violence and to contribute to
the safety of victims of crime set out in clause 6.
Clause 74 –
Recovery intention notice
Clause 74(1) provides that this section
applies if the commissioner has complied with section 73 and is satisfied on
reasonable grounds that in all the circumstances recovery action is still
practicable and appropriate.
Clause 74(2) requires the commissioner to
provide a written recovery intention notice to the offender as soon as
practicable after consulting an assisted person. Clauses 74(3)(a) to (f)
identify what information the commissioner must include in the recovery
intention notice.
Clause 74(4) allows an offender to object, on certain
grounds, to the recovery intention notice within 28 days after the day the
recovery intention notice is given. Clauses 74(4)(a) and (b) provide that the
grounds for objection are that: the offender is not the person who is liable for
the recoverable amount; or the commissioner has not taken into account that the
offender has made, or is required to make, a payment in relation to the
recompensed offence in accordance with a court order.
By restricting the
grounds for objection that the offender may rely on, this clause prevents the
offender from disputing the amount of assistance the commissioner gave to an
individual victim as a result of the act of violence. This limitation is
reasonable and necessary to ensure the privacy and safety of victims of crime in
accordance with the objects of aiding recovery from acts of violence and
improving victims’ safety to help prevent future acts of violence.
Clause 74(5) requires an objection under clause 74(4) to be in writing and
include the facts relied on by the offender in support of the
objection.
Clause 75 – Commissioner may ask registrar for
information relevant to recovery action
Clause 75(1) provides that
the commissioner may, at any time, ask a registrar for information that is
relevant to deciding whether to take or continue recovery action.
Clause
75(2) sets out, without limiting clause 75(1), what the commissioner may ask for
information about.
Clause 75(3) requires the registrar to give the
information to the commissioner unless the registrar is satisfied on reasonable
grounds that giving the information is either contrary to a law in force in the
Territory, or otherwise inappropriate. Clause 75(4) allows information to be
provided by allowing the commissioner access to electronic information
maintained by the registrar. Clause 75(5) provides that the electronic
information may only be used in connection with the information requested under
clause 75(2).
The purpose of this clause is to provide the commissioner
with sufficient information to seek recovery of a recoverable amount. This
clause also ensures that the information that may be requested is limited to
information that relates to the recovery action and private information is not
shared for purposes other than recovery action.
Clause 76 –
Commissioner must not give offender confidential information
Clause
76(1) provides that the commissioner must not, as far as practicable, in any
recovery action, give confidential information to the offender about a person
who receives financial assistance or a funeral expense payment. Clause 76(2)
defines confidential information as including the name, contact details, medical
or psychological reports, counselling notes or other identifying information
about the assisted person.
The purpose of this clause is to restrict when
the commissioner may provide the personal details of an assisted person and the
specific types of assistance the assisted person received to an offender. The
qualification that this applies ‘as far as practicable’ recognises
that in some circumstances it will be necessary to provide limited information
about an assisted person to an offender in order to identify the act of violence
that is the subject of the application for which recovery is being sought. It is
expected that the commissioner will only provide information about an assisted
person when it is absolutely necessary.
Clause 77 –
Recovery notice
This clause sets out when a recovery notice may be
given, what the notice must include and the action the offender is required to
take.
Clause 77(1) provides that if, after giving an offender a
recovery intention notice and taking into account any objection to the notice,
the commissioner is satisfied on reasonable grounds that in all the
circumstances recovery action from the offender is still practicable and
appropriate, the commissioner must give the offender a written recovery notice.
Clauses 77(1)(a) to (h) identify what information the commissioner must include
in the recovery notice.
Clause 77(2) provides a time limit for when the
commissioner must give a recovery notice. A recovery notice must not be given to
an offender more than 2 years after the last occurring of:
a) the date on
which the offender is convicted or found guilty of the recompensed
offence;
b) the date on which a person is given financial assistance or a
funeral expense payment is made.
The purpose of this clause is to
provide certainty for offenders and assisted persons, by placing an outer limit
on the time within which recovery action can be taken.
Clause 77(3)
requires an offender who is given a recovery notice to either pay the
recoverable amount or apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a
review of the recovery notice on or before the recovery date.
Clause
77(4) provides that an offender’s liability to pay is stayed if the
offender applies for a review under clause 77(3)(b).
Clause 77(5)
provides that dismissal of an application for review removes the stay of
liability.
Clause 78 – Arrangement for payment of
recoverable amount
This clause provides that the commissioner may
make alternative payment arrangements with an offender, for a recoverable
amount, in some circumstances.
Clause 78(1) provides that clause 78
applies if the commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that timely recovery
of a recoverable amount under part 6 is unlikely because of the offender’s
financial circumstances.
Clause 78(2) allows the commissioner to make an
arrangement with the offender to pay the recoverable amount in instalments or to
pay an agreed recoverable amount as a lump sum or in instalments.
Clause
78(3) allows the commissioner to include conditions in the agreement if the
commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that the conditions are appropriate
for ensuring timely recovery.
Clause 78(4) discharges the offender from
liability for the recoverable amount under section 77 for the relevant offence,
if the agreed recoverable amount is paid.
Clause 78(5) provides that to
the extent that an amount stated in an arrangement under clause 78(2) is unpaid
under the conditions of the arrangement, it is a debt due to the
Territory.
The purpose of this clause is to recognise that some offenders
will not have the financial capacity to pay the full amount sought or to pay in
one payment. This clause provides a mechanism for the commissioner to recover as
much of the amount as is possible, having regard to the circumstances of the
offender and timeliness of payments. This clause promotes offender
accountability, without placing an unrealisable financial burden on the
offender. The commissioner, as a public authority, is required under section 40B
of the Human Rights Act 2004 to act and make decisions consistent with
human rights, including the right to equality and the right to protection of
family and children when determining the alternative payment arrangements to be
made under this clause.
Clause 79 – Commissioner may ask
government agency for offender’s home address for recovery
action
For the purpose of assisting the commissioner to take recovery
action, this clause allows the commissioner to ask a government agency for the
offender’s home address and requires the government agency to provide the
information unless prevented from doing so by any other law.
Clause
79(1) applies if the commissioner decides to take recovery action under part 6
and allows the commissioner to, at any time, ask a government agency for the
offender’s home address.
Clause 79(2) provides that if a
government agency has the information requested, the government agency must give
that information to the commissioner unless any other Act, or State or
Commonwealth law, prevents the information being given.
Clause 79(3)
defines key words and terms for the purposes of this clause.
The purpose
of clause 79 is to allow the commissioner to obtain information about an
offender’s address from a wide range of sources, such as Centrelink,
Medicare or other agencies such as state driver licensing agencies, where there
is no legal impediment preventing the commissioner from doing so. It is
essential that the commissioner have an ability to obtain an address for an
offender. If the commissioner is unable to give an offender a recovery intention
notice under this part, recovery cannot be pursued.
Part 7 Victims
financial assistance levy
This part comprises clauses 80 to 84 which
impose a victims financial assistance levy.
The purpose of this part is to require offenders to contribute to the cost of
providing financial assistance for victims of crime. Since the victims financial
assistance levy was introduced in 1996 as part of the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Act 1983, the levy has been used to require offenders to
financially contribute to the cost of the financial assistance scheme. The
provisions for imposition of the levy are being included in the new victims
financial assistance scheme established by the Bill to replace the provisions in
the repealed Act.
Clause 80 – Meaning of offence– pt
7
Clause 80 defines the terms ‘offence’ and
‘infringement notice’ for the purposes of part 7.
Clause
81 – Meaning of convicted and convicts– pt
7
Clause 81 defines the terms ‘convicted’ and
‘convicts’ for the purposes of part 7.
Clause 82 –
Imposition of victims financial assistance levy
Clause 82(1) states
the purpose of the victims financial assistance levy, which is to provide a
source of revenue to contribute to the cost of providing financial assistance
for victims of crime. Clause 82(2) identifies that the amount of the levy is
$50, and that the levy is recoverable under the Crimes (Sentence
Administration) Act 2005. Clause 82(3) provides that the levy is in addition
to any other pecuniary penalty imposed in relation to the offence.
Clauses 83 and 84 – Exemptions and Effect of appeal
etc
Clause 83 sets out when a court may exempt a person from
liability to pay the victims financial assistance levy. Clause 84 sets out the
effect of appeal proceedings on a person’s liability to pay the victims
financial assistance levy.
Part 8 Administration
This
part comprises clauses 85 to 89 and sets out the commissioner’s functions
and power to make guidelines. It also sets out when officials are protected from
liability and creates an offence relating to protected information.
Clause 85 – Meaning of official – pt
8
Clause 85 defines official for the purposes of part 8.
Clause 86 – Functions of commissioner
Clause 86
provides that the functions of the commissioner under this Bill are to: manage
and administer the scheme; receive and decide applications for financial
assistance and funeral expense payment; pay amounts for financial assistance;
pay amounts for funeral expense payment; administer repayment and recovery
processes; and review certain decisions, which are identified in schedule 2,
part 2.1 (Internally reviewable decision). These functions are additional to the
commissioner’s functions under the Victims of Crime Act
1994.
Clause 87 – Commissioner’s
guidelines
Clause 87 allows the commissioner to make guidelines about
the operation of the scheme and the non-government agencies that are
appropriately qualified for reporting under clause 31 (Application to
commissioner). Clause 87(2) provides that these guidelines are notifiable
instruments.
Clause 88 – Protection of officials from
liability
Clause 88(1) provides that an official is not personally
liable for anything done or omitted to be done honestly and without recklessness
in the exercise of a function under the Act or in the reasonable belief that the
conduct was in the exercise of a function under the Act.
Clause 88(2)
provides that any liability that would attach to an official instead attaches to
the Territory.
The purpose of this section is to protect officials from
personal liability if the official was acting honestly and without recklessness.
Clause 89 – Secrecy
Clause 89 creates an offence
relating to recording or divulging protected information, other than where this
is authorised by the Act or another law of the Territory, is done in an official
capacity under this Act or another law, or is done with the consent of the
person to whom the information relates.
Protected information is defined
in clause 89(5) as information about a person that is disclosed to, or obtained
by, an official because of the exercise of a function under the Act by the
official or someone else.
Clause 89(1)(a) provides that an official
commits an offence if the official makes a record of protected information about
someone else and is reckless about whether the information is protected
information.
Clause 89(1)(b) provides that an official also commits an
offence if the official does something that divulges protected information about
someone else; is reckless about whether it is protected information; and doing
the thing would result in the information being divulged to someone else.
For example, if a statement of facts about an offence is obtained from a
requested officer under clause 40 (Power to ask for information from chief
police officer), an official would not be able to divulge the contents of that
statement to the applicant, as it would contain protected information about the
offender.
The maximum penalty for an offence under clause 89 is 50
penalty units, imprisonment for 6 months or both. The purpose of the offences is
to ensure that protected information about applicants and offenders is not
divulged or recorded by officials.
Clause 89(2) provides that the
offence does not apply if the record is made or the information is divulged
under this Act or another law applying in the Territory, or in relation to the
exercise of a function as an official.
Clause 89(3) provides that the
offence does not apply if the protected information about someone else is
divulged with that person’s consent. Clause 89(4) provides that an
official need not divulge protected information to a court unless it is
necessary to do so for this Act or another law applying in the
Territory.
Clause 89(5) defines key words and terms for the purpose of
clause 89.
Part 9 Notification and review of
decisions
This part comprises clauses 90 to 95 and sets out the
processes for internal review by the commissioner or a delegate and external
review by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Clause 90
– Definitions – pt 9
This clause defines key terms and
words for the purposes of part 9, including which decisions are internally
reviewable decisions or reviewable decisions.
Clause 91 –
Internal review notices
Clause 91 requires the commissioner or the
delegate to give an internal review notice to the relevant applicant listed in
schedule 2, if the commissioner or the delegate makes an internally reviewable
decision. These provisions are intended to ensure that applicants are informed
about their rights of review.
Clause 92 – Applications for
reconsideration
This clause sets out the requirements for making an
application for reconsideration.
Clause 92(1) provides that an entity
mentioned in schedule 2, part 2.1 may apply to the commissioner for
reconsideration of an internally reviewable decision.
Clauses 92(2) and
(3) require the application to be made in writing within 28 days and to set out
the grounds on which reconsideration is sought.
Clause 92(4) provides
that where an application is made, the decision is automatically stayed until
the application is finally dealt with.
Clause 93 –
Reconsideration of decisions
Clause 93 sets out the way in which the
commissioner must reconsider applications made under clause 92 for
reconsideration of an internally reviewable decision.
Clause 93(1)
requires the commissioner to review the decision or appoint a person or entity
to review the first decision as soon as practicable after receiving an
application for reconsideration of a decision. It is expected that in practice
the commissioner will actively case manage applications to ensure they are
progressed as quickly as possible.
Clause 93(2) requires the commissioner
or the appointed reviewer to reconsider the first decision and confirm, vary or
set aside the decision within 30 days of receiving the application for
reconsideration. The purpose of this section is to provide a level of certainty
for applicants and ensure that applications under this part are dealt with
expeditiously.
Clause 94 – Reviewable decision notice
Clause 94 requires a person who makes a reviewable decision to give
a reviewable decision notice (under the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Act 2008) to the applicant in relation to the reviewable decision that has
been made.
Clause 95 – Applications for
review
Clause 95 provides that an entity mentioned in schedule 2,
part 2.2 may apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal for review of a
reviewable decision.
Part 10 Miscellaneous
This part
comprises clauses 96 to 101.
Clause 96 – Limitation on lawyers
legal costs
This clause restricts the amount a lawyer can charge or
seek to recover for legal costs for services relating to the Act.
Clause
96(1) provides that a lawyer must not charge or seek to recover legal costs that
are higher than the amount prescribed by regulation for legal services that
relate to an application, appeal or review process under the Act. Clause 96(2)
defines key words and terms for the purpose of this section.
The purpose
of this clause, which is substantively the same as part 5 of the repealed Act,
is to ensure that access to legal services relating to the Act is affordable for
applicants and offenders.
Clause 97 – WPI indexation of lawyers
legal costs
Clause 97(1) provides that amounts prescribed by
regulation under clause 96 must be amended each year in line with any adjustment
in WPI that has occurred since the commencement of the
regulation.
Clauses 97(2) to 97(4) prevent the amounts being reduced as a
result of the WPI adjustment. Clause 97(5) provides a definition of WPI.
An example of how adjustments are calculated is given at the end of
clause 97(4) to assist interpretation.
Clause 98 – Review of
Act
Clause 98(1) requires the Minister to review the operation of the
Act as soon as practicable after the end of its 3rd year of operation.
Clause 98(2) requires the Minister to present a report of the review to
the Legislative Assembly within 12 months after the day the review is started.
Clause 98(3) provides that this clause expires 4 years after the day it
commences.
The purpose of this section is to ensure that the scheme
operates efficiently and effectively to meet the objects of the Act contained in
clause 6. As the Act provides for the commencement of a new scheme, it is
expected that improvements and adjustments may be required after 3 years of
operation to address practical issues that may arise.
Clause 99
– Determination of fees
Clause 99(1) provides that the Minister
may determine any necessary fees. Clause 99(2) provides that the Ministerial
determination is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of the
Legislation Act 2001.
Clause 100 – Approved
forms
Clause 100(1) allows the commissioner to approve any necessary
forms for this Act. Clause 100(2) stipulates that where there is an approved
form it must be used. Clause 100(3) provides that an approved form is a
notifiable instrument under the Legislation Act 2001.
Clause
101 – Regulation-making power
Clause 101(1) provides the power
for the Executive to make any necessary regulations for the purposes of this
Act. Clause 101(2) allows the regulation to create offences with a maximum
penalty of 10 penalty units.
Part 11 Repeals and consequential
amendments
This part comprises clauses 102 and 103 and sets out the
legislation repealed and consequential amendments made as a result of this Act.
Clauses 102 and 103 – Legislation repealed and Legislation
amended – sch 3
Clause 102 sets out the legislation repealed
under this Act.
Clause 103 enlivens the consequential amendments set
out in schedule 3.
Part 20 Transitional
This part
comprises clauses 200 to 205 and sets out the transitional arrangement for the
new scheme.
Clause 200 – Definitions – pt
20
This clause defines key words and terms used in this part.
Clause 201 – Application for financial assistance commenced but
not finalised under repealed Act, and later action
Clause 201(1)
provides that clause 201 applies if an application under the repealed Act is
made, but not finalised before the commencement day.
Clause 201(2)
provides that the repealed Act continues to apply to: the initial application
and any proceeding relating to the initial application; a later application for
variation of a final award and any proceeding relating to the variation
application; the repayment of an amount of financial assistance by an assisted
person; and the restitution of an amount of financial assistance from a person
found guilty of a related crime. Clause 201(3) clarifies the meaning of a matter
for clause 201.
The purpose of clause 201 is that pending applications
and future matters arising from those applications are not affected by the
commencement of the new Act.
Clause 202 – Application for
financial assistance not commenced under repealed Act may be made within 12
months after commencement day, and later action
Clause 202(1)
provides that clause 202 applies if a person who, immediately before the
commencement date, is entitled to make an application under the repealed Act and
has not made the initial application.
Clause 202(2) allows applicants to
make the initial application to the Magistrates Court within 12 months after the
commencement day.
Clause 202(3) provides that the repealed Act continues
to apply to: the initial application and any proceeding relating to the
application; a later application for variation of a final award and any
proceeding relating to an application for variation of a final award; the
repayment of an amount of financial assistance by an assisted person; and the
restitution of an amount of financial assistance from a person found guilty of a
related crime. Clause 202(4) clarifies the meaning of the matter for clause
201.
The purpose of clause 202 is to provide a transition period in which
eligible people have the opportunity to lodge an application under the repealed
Act before applications are no longer accepted under the repealed Act.
Clause 203 –Application for financial assistance under repealed
Act not made within 12 months after commencement day may be made under this
Act
Clause 203(1) provides that clause 203 applies if immediately
before the commencement day a person is entitled to make an application under
the repealed Act and the person has not, within 12 months of commencement, made
the application in accordance with section 202.
Clause 203(2) provides
that the person may apply for financial assistance under this Act for an act of
violence that would have been the subject of the application under section 27 of
the repealed Act.
Clause 203(3) provides that this Act applies to the
application mentioned in clause 203(2).
Clause 203(4)(a) provides that,
for an application mentioned in clause 203(2), if the act of violence that is
the subject of the application arises in the course of an offence against the
Crimes Act 1900, sections 51 to 62 (which includes sexual assault, sexual
intercourse and acts of indecency), the applicant is eligible for a maximum
amount of a recognition payment of $50,000.
Clause 203(4)(b) provides
that, for an application mentioned in clause 203(2), if as a result of the act
of violence the person suffers an extremely serious injury under section 11 of
the repealed Act the applicant is eligible for a recognition payment of $30,000.
The purpose of clause 203 is to allow those who have been injured by
violent acts before the commencement of the new Act, to apply under this Act
instead of the repealed Act, and to provide recognition payments that align with
the special assistance payments, victims of certain sexual offences and victims
who incurred an extremely serious injury were eligible for under the repealed
Act.
Clause 204 – Transitional regulations
Clause 204
enables the Executive to make regulations dealing with transitional
matters.
The clause contains 2 different regulation making
powers.
Clause 204(1) enables the making of a regulation to deal with any
transitional matter that arises as a result of the enactment of the Bill.
However, the scope of the regulation must be confined to the same sphere of
operation as the amended Act, be strictly ancillary to the operation of the Act
and not widen the Act’s purpose.
Clause 204(2) enables the making
of a regulation that modifies the Act. However, a regulation under this clause
may only modify part 20 of the Act, and only if the Executive is of the opinion
that the part does not adequately or appropriately deal with a transitional
issue. A provision of this kind is an important mechanism for achieving the
proper objectives, managing the effective operation, and eliminating
transitional flaws in the application of the Act in unforeseen circumstances by
allowing for flexible and responsive (but limited) modification by
regulation.
Clause 204(3) gives a regulation under clause 204(2) full
effect according to its terms. A provision of part 20 of the Bill modified by
regulation will operate in the same way (in relation to another provision of the
Act or any other Territory law) as if it were amended by an Act, and in
accordance with established principles of statutory interpretation. The clause
is not expressed, and does not intend, to authorise the making of a regulation
limiting future enactments of the Legislative Assembly.
Also, any
modification by regulation of part 20 of the Bill has no ongoing effect after
the expiry of that part.
Clause 205 – Expiry – pt
20
This clause provides that part 20 expires 5 years after the
commencement day. The note explains that transitional provisions will continue
to have effect after their expiry, but are removed from the Act. This means that
people who are eligible to apply to the commissioner under clauses 201, 202 and
203 can continue to make applications under those provisions after part 20
expires.
Schedule 1 Offences – act of violence
Schedule 1 provides a list of offence types, in table form, that
constitute general offences and domestic violence offences.
Schedule
2 Reviewable decisions
Schedule 2 provides a list of internally and
externally reviewable decisions under the Act.
Schedule
3 Consequential amendments
Schedule 3 provides consequential
amendments to other Acts.
Dictionary
Defines key words and
terms used in the Act.
[1] General Comment No. 16: The
right to respect of privacy, family, home and correspondence, and protection of
honour and reputation (Art. 17) : .
08/04/1988.
[2]
http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtections/HumanRights/Human-rights-scrutiny/PublicSectorGuidanceSheets/Pages/Privacyandreputation.aspx
[3]
General Comment No. 16: The right to respect of privacy, family, home and
correspondence, and protection of honour and reputation (Art. 17) : .
08/04/1988.
[4] General
Comment No. 16: The right to respect of privacy, family, home and
correspondence, and protection of honour and reputation (Art. 17) : .
08/04/1988.
[5]
Attorney-General website, Fair trial and fair hearing rights,
http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtections/HumanRights/Human-rights-scrutiny/PublicSectorGuidanceSheets/Pages/Fairtrialandfairhearingrights.aspx
[6] Communication No. 450/1991,
I.P. v. Finland, para. 6.2.
[7] HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE Ninetieth session Geneva, 9 to 27 July 2007 General Comment No. 32 Article 14: Right to equality before courts and tribunals and to a fair trial, Communication No. 352/1989, Douglas, Gentles, Kerr v. Jamaica, para. 11.2.
[8] European Court of Human Rights,
Guide to Article 6, Para 173, http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Guide_Art_6_ENG.pdf,
Dombo Beheer B.V. v. the Netherlands, s 32; Levages Prestations Services v.
France, s46.
[9] General Comment
No. 16: The right to respect of privacy, family, home and correspondence, and
protection of honour and reputation (Art. 17) : .
08/04/1988.
[10] Australian
Law Reform Committee & NSW Law Reform Committee. Final Report Family
Violence—A National Legal Response (2010) Chapter 24, http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/Family%20Violence%20-%20A%20National%20Legal%20Response%20%28ALRC%20Report%20114%29/29-integrated-responses.
[11]
Ibid. Chapter 24
[12]
Victim Support ACT, Annual Report 2014-15
p8
[13] ALRC Report Volume 1
http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/List%20of%20Recommendations/29-integrated-responses-0
[14]
ALRC Report Volume 2 page 1395