The ACT government will go ahead with plans to slash the maximum amount of compensation for victims of violent crime as part of changes it says will allow more victims to access funds.
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Attorney-General Simon Corbell said the reforms were a response to concerns about the number of people who were missing out on the scheme including many victims of domestic violence, witnesses of violent crimes and victims who suffer extremely serious but not necessarily permanent injuries.
"For example, victims of property crime in a domestic violence context will be able to apply for up to $10,000 for the cost of safety measures, relocation costs, counselling, expenses incurred in making the application and other expenses in exceptional circumstances," he said.
ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner John Hinchey welcomed the decision to take the victims of crime financial assistance scheme out of the courts and place it in the hands of Victim Support ACT and the move to increase payments each year in line with cost of living – an Australian first.
"The value of the current special assistance payments have been eroded by 50 per cent since the scheme commenced in 1998," he said.
"I think that decision [for an annual increase] should be applauded."
He previously called for the scheme's total funding pool to be doubled, but said "flattening out" the scheme was likely to double the number of victims accessing payments, currently at around 100 each year, heralding an increase to the total expenditure.
A spokesman for Mr Corbell said there was no basis to increase the funding pool as the payments were "reasonable and sustainable" in comparison with interstate schemes and in the context of budget priorities.
Under the current scheme, police, ambulance officers, firefighters and victims of sexual assault can claim up to $50,000 for pain and suffering, but the new scheme will no longer provide payments based on specific jobs.
The average payment for emergency service workers is expected to be under $3000, lower than the current scheme but Mr Hinchey said it was a fair outcome as there were other categories of workers who were also at risk of harm and workers would also be covered by workers' compensation schemes.
Previously, 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 the overhaul, first flagged by Mr Corbell last April, will replace the "large amounts" of special assistance payments only available to a small number of victims with lower amounts in "recognition payments".
The payments will be split into five categories ranging from $1000 to $20,000 depending on the severity of the crime in a bid to ensure the scheme, worth around $1.5 million each year, is sustainable.
As recently as last November the government planned to cap the maximum recognition payment at $15,000 for the families of murder or manslaughter victims or victims of culpable driving causing death, but Mr Corbell's spokesman said payments for all crime categories were increased after community feedback.
"The new amounts for recognition payments are significantly higher than similar payments in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, where the maximum amounts available are $15,000 or $10,000," Mr Corbell said.
"By making this change, this will allow for a more equitable distribution of funds within the scheme."
Sexual assault victims are likely to receive less under the new scheme, with payments ranging from $2,000 to $26,250 when aggravating factors are included, but the payments would still be "substantially higher" than similar schemes interstate.
Mr Hinchey said he didn't want to see a reduction in payments for any victims, but a fair balance had to be found to recast the system.
Taking the scheme outside the court system and removing the requirement for independent psychological reports would be welcomed by sexual assault victims "traumatised" by the current scheme, he said.
Other changes will allow service providers to be paid directly, removing the need for victims to pay upfront and seek reimbursement.
The current maximum total payment of $50,000 for any one applicant will be retained.
The bill to make the scheme more "user-friendly" will be introduced to the assembly early next year.
