Page 4114 - Week 13 - Thursday, 6 December 2007
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MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (5.44): The government will not be supporting Mr Stefaniak’s amendments. I have previously indicated the rationale for that and the difficulties associated with a graduated scheme here in the ACT. What I would add, however, is that it is important to note that we do have other mechanisms in place that recognise the severity of offences and the importance of people who do commit serious offences paying for part of the impact on their victims. I draw members’ attention to the existing criminal injuries compensation levy. This is an existing levy that imposes a $50 surcharge on a person convicted of an offence.
The victim services levy and the CIC levy assist to provide financial compensation to victims, so that is a separate levy that provides for financial compensation to victims of serious crime. This levy is designed to provide funding for services to victims around counselling and rehabilitation, not financial compensation. It is important, I think, to draw to the attention of members that we already have provisions for more serious crimes to be caught up in the criminal injuries compensation scheme and for offenders to pay the cost of rehabilitation and, more importantly, financial compensation to victims in relation to those types of crimes.
The government believes the existing framework is adequate and does address comprehensively the range of issues at play. For reasons associated with the size of our jurisdiction and the need for an easily enforceable scheme, the government will not be supporting the amendments proposed by Mr Stefaniak.
Question put:
That amendments Nos 1 to 5 be agreed to.
The Assembly voted—
|
Ayes 6 |
Noes 9 | ||
|
Mrs Dunne |
Mr Stefaniak |
Mr Barr |
Mr Gentleman |
|
Mr Mulcahy |
Mr Berry |
Mr Hargreaves | |
|
Mr Pratt |
Mr Corbell |
Ms MacDonald | |
|
Mr Seselja |
Dr Foskey |
Mr Stanhope | |
|
Mr Smyth |
Ms Gallagher | ||
Question so resolved in the negative.
Amendments negatived.
Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Bill agreed to.
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