Question Time

Victim Support Service

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:08): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier reverse the $3.7 million reduction to the Victim Support Service budget made in the 2019-20 state budget so that female victims of violence can be better supported?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (14:08): The Victim Support Service has operated for over 40 years in South Australia and continues to have a role in providing services to victims. Approximately two years ago, a particular program relating to counselling services for persons who were the victims of child and/or adult sexual abuse went out to tender. Relationships Australia SA, which undertakes considerable counselling and other services in South Australia for the government and others—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell!

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier has the call.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —an entity that has been operating for some 70 years in South Australia—was the successful applicant to undertake that work.

In addition, some other services were provided by the Victim Support Service (VSS), including assisting persons at court and also assisting in the preparation of victim impact statements. Both of those responsibilities, with funding, have been provided since that time to the Commissioner for Victims' Rights, and her division now provides support of that.

She is also responsible for the preparation of initiatives to look at how we might additionally serve and support victims, including a project she is still working on relating to the advice to victims in relation to serious offences and the progress of those matters through prosecution and the courts. This was something that, in opposition, we found was highly deficient in relation to how that was managed, or lack thereof, and it is a commitment that we have made to do that.

We have been working with the commissioner for victims of crime and the police commissioner in particular, but one might appreciate that both the courts and the Department for Correctional Services also have a key role in the progress of a prosecution to sentence in relation to serious offences, and therefore that is another aspect that the commissioner is currently still addressing. I think that otherwise answers the question.

This is a provision of a service that is important to the government. A tender has gone out. The successful tenderer has received it. They are undertaking that work across the state and they continue to provide that excellent service.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Reynell, I call to order the member for Badcoe. I call to order the member for Reynell.