[Greens-Media] Media Release: Victims of Crime betrayed by O'Farrell and Fred Nile

[David Shoebridge MLC]

At 4:30am on Thursday morning the O'Farrell government, with the support of
the Shooters MPs and Fred Nile, have forced through harsh retrospective
cuts to the rights of victims of crime.

Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

"The Victims Rights and Support Bill passed through the Upper House this
morning with only one small amendment that removes the time limit in which
victims of child sexual abuse have to make claims for compensation.

“This amendment, while a small positive step, does not come close to making
this law anything other than a brutal assault on the rights of victims of
crime.

“Many victims of domestic violence will see their compensation drastically
reduced or even entirely removed.

"The same O'Farrell government that granted registered clubs hundreds of
millions of dollars in ongoing poker machine tax concessions in its first
months of government, now says it can not find a single fresh dollar to
adequately fund victims compensation.

"This uncaring government is ensuring every dollar in savings is taken from
victims by refusing to commit any fresh treasury funding to keep fairness
in the scheme.

"Some 24,000 individual victims of violent crime, who have filed claims for
compensation, face losing most or all of their rights due to the
retrospectivity of this legislation.

“These victims have gone through the often painful process of submitting
their claim, a process that can involve tens or hundreds of hours of
collection of documentary evidence and the reliving of intensely painful
personal experiences.

"They have done so in good faith, under the existing laws, but will now be
subject to this brutal new regime because the government has decided that
in NSW we cannot afford to treat victims of crime with decency.

"Despite the unfairness and hurt that this legislation will visit on
victims of crime, the O'Farrell government, with the support of the right
wing minor parties, have forced this legislation through in the small hours
of the morning," Mr Shoebridge said.

*Media Contact: 0408 113 952*

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David Shoebridge

Greens MP in the NSW Legislative Council

P: (02) 0408 113 952|Media: 0433 753 376|T:
@ShoebridgeMLC<http://twitter.com/#%21/shoebridgemlc>

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