Review of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996: Supplementary Consultation Paper (html)

16. Conclusion

16.1 This supplementary consultation paper discusses a range of issues to assist the Victorian Law Reform Commission (the Commission) in understanding the operation and effectiveness of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996 (the Act) and the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) for all victims of crime, and whether there are other models that would more effectively deliver assistance. This consultation paper therefore sets out a number of questions and options for reform.

16.2 This paper does not represent concluded views on the matters raised by the supplementary terms of reference. Those conclusions will be stated in the Commission’s report addressing both the first terms of reference and the supplementary terms of reference to be delivered to the Attorney-General by 27 July 2018.

16.3 The Commission welcomes submissions from all parts of the community. It particularly invites submissions from victims, persons affected, professionals, stakeholders and the community who have had direct experience of VOCAT processes and/or whose work interacts with VOCAT.

16.4 You can provide input into the Commission’s review by responding to the specific questions posed throughout the paper. These questions are also included at the beginning of this paper. You may choose to answer some, but not all questions. Alternatively, you may wish to provide a response that does not address individual questions posed throughout the paper, but nonetheless relates to the issues outlined in the terms of reference.

16.5 To allow the Commission time to consider your views before deciding on final recommendations, submissions are due by 31 October 2017.

16.6 Your responses to these questions will assist the Commission determine whether Victoria’s model of state-funded financial assistance for victims of crime, through the Act and VOCAT, is the most appropriate model.