Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Ministers statements: victim support

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:29): I rise to update the house on a new victim support initiative being delivered in partnership between the Victorian government and the Commonwealth. In the October 2022–23 federal budget our colleagues in Canberra announced $8.4 million in funding to explore new ways to provide legal services for sexual violence victims and survivors that do not add to their trauma. I am pleased to confirm that Victoria was selected to participate in this national pilot following a competitive merit-based assessment process. This is recognition of the sector-leading initiatives introduced by the Victorian Andrews – now Allan – government and our commitment to supporting victims of crime in our state.

In Victoria the pilot program will be delivered in partnership with Victoria Legal Aid, Djirra and the Women’s Legal Service. With this new funding we will expand Victoria’s statewide victims legal service to provide legal information for victims and survivors of sexual assault, utilising our existing victims legal service helpline. It will also allow us to provide targeted advice and casework for victims and survivors seeking to protect confidential communications, and there is tailored support for Aboriginal victims and survivors to report sexual assault to police.

Here in Victoria we have been leading the way in delivering a better, trauma-informed and victim-focused system for supporting victims of crime in our state. This additional Commonwealth funding will ensure we can keep expanding and improving these important services. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our Commonwealth government partners, in particular the Minister for Social Services the Honourable Amanda Rishworth MP and our very own Victorian Attorney-General the Honourable Mark Dreyfus KC MP.