Commissioner for Victims' Rights

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:51): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General advise the house of significant information contained in the Commissioner for Victims' Rights Annual Report and how it differs from previous years?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:51): I thank the member for her question. The Commissioner for Victims' Rights, as members would be aware, is a statutory officer independent under her appointment under the Victims of Crime Act 2001. The commissioner's role is to help victims of crime in South Australia with their dealings with the criminal justice system to ensure that victims are treated fairly and respectfully, with their rights acknowledged and observed by public agencies and officials. The commissioner provides information, advice and support to South Australians who are harmed and their families and friends to deal with the physical, emotional and financial impact of crime.

It is therefore with pleasure that I appointed Ms Bronwyn Killmier as the commissioner in August 2018. She undertook what was a new approach with an increased domestic focus on the statutory functions of the act. On 15 October, I tabled the commissioner's annual report. It was the first standalone annual report tabled in this parliament since 2008-2009.

The new commissioner has brought much to this important role, as has been demonstrated throughout her report, the detail of which of course I will leave members to read, and I urge that they do so. Significant changes needed to be made and I am pleased that they have been. One of the matters that has brought more timely service to victims has been the identification and development of clear policies and procedures.

The commissioner is also moving now towards electronic management of files and a paperless office to provide a more streamlined and effective service for victims. New evaluation criteria and procedures for data collection have been developed and implemented midway through the 2018-19 reporting period and this allows for an increased accuracy in data capture. The requirements for a case management system have now been scoped. Furthermore, the new data system's collection was implemented in February this year, providing a more accurate way to collect and assess activity data. There are a number of key outcomes from this already that are reported in the annual report and I refer members to that.

The commissioner can, in certain circumstances, fund victims to be able to pursue particular legal issues. New procedures and policies have now been delivered to ensure transparency and rigour with respect to such funding.

Members may also be aware that, when a life-sentenced prisoner lodges an application for release on parole, the Commissioner for Victims' Rights makes a submission to the Parole Board representing the co-victims of those affected. For the 2018-19 financial year it has been estimated there were some 230 contacts to victims by the Commissioner for Victims' Rights office in relation to 23 parole submissions for life-sentenced prisoners during this period.

The commissioner has formed a consultative committee for government and non-government agencies, and this has been very important in assisting victims. The commissioner has also identified a need for victims to know their rights so that they will be more informed when engaged with the criminal justice system. The commissioner has revised publications to ensure greater accessibility and streamlining and rewriting of publications in plain English, including the ‘blue book’, which is the Information Booklet for Victims of Crime. Other examples include the Fighting Fraud Cybercrime and Scams booklet provided to SAPOL, and the Information for People Bereaved by Suicide booklet, which is provided to a broad range of agencies, obviously, to help with that difficult social problem.