Updates
Government ensuring greater support for victims of crime and communities
Queensland Government media release
The Queensland Government has announced a landmark reform package to better support victims of crime and their families.
More than $200 million over the next five years will boost victim support services – which have experienced increased demand for support from victims and their families – and financial assistance to victims of crime, as well as additional Victim Assist Queensland staff to ensure more applications can be assessed sooner.
Additionally, $18 million has been allocated to establish the recently announced Victims’ Commissioner office. $6 million of this will be for non-government organisations that support victims.
The government has heard from victims of crime around the state and is putting them front and centre and that’s what this support package is about.
The upper cap for financial assistance for victims will be reset from $75,000 to $120,000 and a range of increases to payments under the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009 will include:
- Category A – currently $10,000 increased to $15,000
- Category B – currently $3,500 increased to $9,000
- Category C – currently $2,000 increased to $6,000
- Category D – currently $1,000 increased to $3,000
- Increase in funeral expenses from $8,000 to $15,000.
- Increase in distress payments from $10,000 to $15,000
The government will introduce amendments to legislation to implement these changes in October. Visit Victim Assist Queensland.