Thursday, 23 March 2023

Ministers statements: victims legal service

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:05): I rise to update the house on last week’s launch of Victoria’s first victims legal service, the result of a $7.3 million investment by the Andrews Labor government. The victims legal service provides free legal advice and support to people who have suffered injury or loss as a result of a crime. It can help them seek compensation from the person who committed the crime – the offender – but the service can also help victims of crime seek financial assistance through the existing Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal.

I want to thank Victoria Legal Aid as well as community legal centres and Aboriginal legal service providers across the state. They are partnering with the government to deliver this vital service. The victims legal service was co-designed in close partnership with legal stakeholders, including Aboriginal legal services and people that specialise in working with women experiencing family violence. We also consulted closely with the Victims of Crime Consultative Committee to ensure the service best meets the needs of victims of crime.

In just its first week of operation the victims legal service assisted 45 victims with information and legal advice. It also made 18 referrals to supporting providers for ongoing legal work. People can contact the victims legal service helpline on 1800 531 566. This is just one of the many ways of ensuring that the voices of victims of crime are front and centre in our criminal justice system. The government has invested close to $100 million to deliver on its commitment to establish a new financial assistance scheme – a landmark reform for victims of crime in Victoria. Once the financial assistance scheme is operational, the victims legal service will continue to be there to support victims with legal advice and information.