In return, the victims of crime compensation scheme would be opened to a much broader suite of victims - including victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes, and would no longer require permanent and extremely serious injury to qualify.

ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner John Hinchey endorsed the proposed changes on Friday, while unions representing police and emergency services officers called for further discussions.

Under the existing scheme, police, ambulance officers, fire fighters and victims of sexual assault can claim up to $50,000 for pain and suffering. As well, people with a permanent and extremely serious injury due to violent crime have been able to claim up to $30,000 for pain and suffering.

But under wide-ranging changes announced by Attorney-General Simon Corbell on Friday, the pain and suffering payments would be capped. The highest payout would be $15,000 for families of murder victims or victims of culpable driving causing death.

New categories of injury on a sliding scale would include: $10,000 for very serious sexual offences, $5000 for serious sexual offences and very serious offences likely to result in grievous bodily harm, and down to a low of $500 for offences such as threats, assaults, robbery and stalking. The payments can be increased if aggravating factors are at play.

The specific coverage for police, ambulance officers and firefighters would be removed under the new scheme, with emergency personnel treated like any other victim of violent crime.

Victims would no longer need to go to court to get compensation.

Victims are also eligible for expenses and the new scheme retains expense payments for crime-scene clean-up, replacing locks, relocation and medical costs as well as funeral expenses and counselling.

Mr Corbell, who briefed emergency services representatives yesterday, said the current scheme was inequitable, with only a small proportion of victims eligible for compensation and only about 100 people a year awarded any payments.

"This proposed change is about a fairer scheme which, instead of making larger payments available to a very small pool of victims, provides more modest payments to a much wider pool of victims," he said.

But he was open to "refinements", including addressing concerns about the impact on sexual assault victims, and looking at workers injured in the course of duties, particularly police, emergency services and hospital emergency department staff.

Over the past 10 years of the scheme, the average payment made to police was $6100. The new scheme envisages they would be eligible for the $1000 and $500 payments. The average for sexual assault victims over 10 years has been $27,000; under the new scheme they would be eligible for amounts from $1000 to $5000, or higher with aggravating factors.

The overall cost is expected to remain about $1.5 million a year.

Mr Hinchey said taking the scheme out of the courts was a welcome step to improving access. ''Of course, it always comes down to the money and it will be in the detail and the money,'' he said.

''I would hope that the amounts that have been expended in the past are not used as the sole measurement for how much should be spent in the future.''

Australian Federal Police Association president Jon Hunt-Sharman said he would continue discussions with Mr Corbell. "In the proposed scheme, police who suffer an injury because of a violent crime during the execution of their duty must be acknowledged."

He said as first responders, police and emergency services members often faced a heightened risk of injury.

Mr Hunt-Sharman called on the government to acknowledge personal courage and sacrifice members made for the community.

Transport Workers Union representative Ben Sweaney said ambulance officers also needed appropriate support. "We're in the first stage of consultation with the government and believe common sense will prevail," he said.

Mr Corbell has asked for feedback by May 23 at justice.act.gov.au.