Victims' Day

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (14:54): My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the Attorney-General inform the chamber about Victims' Day and the Victims' Day morning tea he attended?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:54): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this area. Victims' Day was held on 16 September and held for the second time here in South Australia. I was pleased to attend and address the meeting that was hosted by the Commissioner for Victims' Rights, Bronwyn Killmier, to acknowledge Victims' Day and to promote and recognise the rights of victims of crime.

Amongst many attendees there were representatives from SAPOL's victims contact office, DCS's victim support unit, forensic mental health, health representatives from services such as Yarrow Place and the Cedar Health Service, the Homicide Victim Support group, the Road Trauma Support Team, the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team, the Victim Support Service, Relationships Australia, the Commissioner for Children and Young People and the DPP witness assistance service.

It was a good opportunity to speak further with many of those who work tirelessly, day in, day out, with victims, and I wish to place formally on the record my thanks and appreciation for those who work in this often difficult space to support others who are dealing with the repercussions of being a victim of crime. It is something that is critically important for victims who are navigating the legal system—that they have the opportunity to share how the crime has impacted their lives, the life of their family and the impact it has had on them.

It was recently brought to my attention in one area—that is, the use of victim impact statements in a court setting—that it is sometimes difficult and traumatic for victims in that victim impact statements are sometimes edited by prosecutors and witness assistance officers prior to being put to court due to well-intentioned concerns about admissibility. While this editing practice is more often than not well intentioned, it often causes victims to feel distressed.

At the Victims' Day event I was pleased to announce that we will be supporting in principle changes that have been recommended by the Commissioner for Victims' Rights to look at changing the Sentencing Act to provide that victim impact statements should not be edited and that it should be left to the judge or magistrate to exercise discretion on admissibility of content in a victim impact statement.

This is making sure that the victims' voices are heard as the victim intended their voice to be heard. We will be looking at drafting legislation to give effect to this reform to clarify the use of victim impact statements and through that enhance the positive victim participation and engagement and making sure that victims are placed at the centre of the criminal justice system.

I would like to thank the Commissioner for Victims' Rights, Bronwyn Killmier, for her passion and dedication to victims and for hosting the event. I would also like to acknowledge that today in another place the concealing human remains legislation passed, and I had the opportunity to meet with Philip and Mindy Hind, the parents of Daniel Hind, who was murdered. It was a great relief to see that legislation pass that all in this chamber supported. I pay tribute to those who have used their experience, often really very harrowing experience, as victims to make life better and easier for those who come after them.