The Territory Labor Government is releasing a discussion paper about reforms to help victims of crime. The discussion paper looks at how to improve the NTs financial assistance scheme to better support victims of violent crimes in the NT.
The main purpose of the discussion paper is to look at how the NTs financial assistance scheme can be improved to better support victims of violent crimes in the NT.
Other potential reforms include:
- Introducing victim-offender conferencing for adult offenders in the NT and
- Improving restitution and compensation orders made under the Sentencing Act.
The additional reform proposals are separate to the financial assistance scheme. They are about improving outcomes for victims of crime in the criminal justice process.
The Territory Labor Government recently released its strengthened Charter of Victims Rights for public comment. The Charter of Victims Rights establishes principles that victims are to be treated fairly and as a priority in the justice system to help victims improve their ability to enforce their rights.
The Territory Labor Government encourages Territorians to have their say about the reform proposals to help shape law reform that will create a safe and resilient community.
To access the discussion paper and the consultation, visit: https://justice.nt.gov.au/attorney-general-and-justice/law-reform-reviews
The reform proposals will be further developed, following the feedback from all stakeholders.
Comments from Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Natasha Fyles:
The Territory Labor Government is putting victims first through improving support for victims of crime and consulting Territorians on important issues.
This discussion paper gives Territorians the opportunity to have their say on these reforms.
A Territory Labor Government will always put victims of crime first. This is why we are strengthening the charter of Victims Rights, and this is why we want to improve the financial assistance scheme to better support victims of violent crimes.
