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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-17 Daily Xml
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Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (14:11): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier reverse the $780,000 cut to the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance program announced in the 2019-20 state budget?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (14:12): I thank the member for the question, and I do ask her to remember, or at least review, what I have just said in response to the previous question. The court assistance service, and the issue in relation to the support for victim impact statement preparation, has been a responsibility that has transferred to the Commissioner for Victims' Rights unit within that division with those services, and those services are continuing. I reassure the people of South Australia that those services are continuing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —and they are under the responsibility of the Commissioner for Victims' Rights—

An honourable member: All talk!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Well, I don't suggest the interjection is suggesting that's all talk. I hope they are not referring to the Commissioner for Victims' Rights.

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier will not respond to interjections.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Bronwyn Killmier, who has been appointed in this very important role, I think is doing an outstanding job, and the services that are required to support women in the domestic violence service have been transferred. There is a third area—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —which may be referred to by the member, and that relates to a legal advice provided under contract—which, again, has been through tender—and the Legal Services Commission was successful to provide that advice to women, particularly in the courts, to ensure that they have advice precedent to their matters in court so that they are actually able to get that advice. We think that is very important.

When I came into office, I found that the contract with the VSS for this service was actually basically a social worker contract for a legal service. That in itself had some major deficiencies, so we did act—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —to ensure that that legal service was undertaken by legal practitioners, and therefore it was put out to tender. Several tendered for it. The Legal Services Commission were successful. I meet regularly with them, and I am very pleased that they are continuing to undertake that role.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Reynell, I call to order the member for Elizabeth and the member for Wright, I call to order the member for Playford, I warn the member for Reynell and I call to order the member for Lee.

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