1Victims of Crime Act 2001

South Australia Victims of Crime Act 2001 An Act to lay down principles to govern the treatment of victims of crime in the criminal justice system; to provide limited rights to statutory compensation for injury suffered as a result of the commission of criminal offences; to repeal the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1978; and for other purposes. Contents Part 1—Preliminary 1 Short title 3 Objects 4 Interpretation Part 2—Treatment of victims of crime Division 1—Explanatory provisions 5 Reasons for declaration and its effect Division 2—Declaration of principles governing treatment of victims 6 Fair and dignified treatment 7 Right to have perceived need for protection taken into account in bail proceedings 8 Right to information 9 Victim to be advised on role as witness 9A Victim of serious offence entitled to be consulted in relation to certain decisions 9B Victim's entitlement to be present in court 9C Victim to be informed about right to have impact of offence considered by sentencing court 10 Victim entitled to have impact of offence considered by sentencing court and to make submissions on parole 10A Victim may request consideration of appeal 11 Victim to be informed about access to health and welfare services 12 Rights in relation to compensation and restitution 13 Return of property 14 Protection of privacy Part 3—Victims of Crime Advisory Committee and Commissioner for Victims' Rights Division 1—Victims of Crime Advisory Committee 15 Power to establish advisory committee Division 2—Commissioner for Victims' Rights 16 Commissioner for Victims' Rights 16A Powers of the Commissioner 16B Appointment of acting Commissioner 16C Staff 16D Delegation 16E Independence of Commissioner 16F Annual report Part 4—Compensation 17 Eligibility to make claim 18 Application for compensation 19 Joinder of offender as party to court proceedings 20 Orders for compensation 21 Medical examination of claimant 22 Evidence and proof 23 Joint offences 24 Appeals 25 Legal costs and disbursements 26 Representation of Crown in proceedings Part 5—Payment of compensation 27 Payment of compensation etc by Attorney-General 28 Right of Attorney-General to recover money paid out from offender etc 29 Recovery from claimant Part 6—Victims of Crime Fund 30 Victims of Crime Fund 31 Payments from Fund 32 Imposition of levy Part 7—Miscellaneous 32A Victim may exercise rights through an appropriate representative 33 Interaction between this Act and other laws 34 Date as at which compensation is to be assessed 34A Disclosure of information 35 Delegation 36 Annual report 37 Regulations Schedule a1—Compensation amounts for non‑financial loss (section 20(3)(a)) Schedule 1—Repeal and transitional provisions 1 Repeal of Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1978 2 Transitional provision 3 Operation of certain amendments Legislative history The Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows: Part 1—Preliminary 1—Short title This Act may be cited as the Victims of Crime Act 2001. 3—Objects The objects of this Act are— (a) to give statutory recognition to victims of crime and the harm that they suffer from criminal offending; and (b) to establish principles governing how victims of crime are to be treated by public agencies and officials; and (c) to help victims of crime recover from the effects of criminal offending and to advance their welfare in other ways; and (d) to provide a limited statutory scheme of compensation to victims most directly affected by criminal offending as an acknowledgement of the harm that they suffer from criminal offending. 4—Interpretation (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears— child—a reference to a child is not limited to biological and adopted children—it extends to a person in relation to whom another (who is not a biological parent) stands in the position, and undertakes the responsibilities, of a parent; but a reference to a child does not, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, extend to an adult child; claimant means a person by whom, or on whose behalf, an application for statutory compensation is made; Commissioner means the Commissioner for Victims' Rights appointed under Part 3 Division 2; conviction includes a formal finding of guilt and to convict has a corresponding meaning; court means the District Court; CPI means the Consumer Price Index (All groups index for Adelaide) published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics; custody includes— (a) home detention; and (b) detention in a training centre within the meaning of the Young Offenders Act 1993; and (c) detention as a result of being declared liable to supervision under Part 8A of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935; dependants, in relation to a victim, means any spouse, domestic partner, parents or children (including adult children) of the victim who are financially dependent on the victim; domestic partner means a person who is a domestic partner within the meaning of the Family Relationships Act 1975, whether declared as such under that Act or not; harm means injury, damage or loss; homicide means murder, manslaughter or an offence against section 14 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (criminal neglect) where the victim dies; immediate family of a person means any one or more of the following: (a) a spouse or domestic partner; (b) a parent; (c) a grandparent; (d) a child (including an adult child); (e) a grandchild (including an adult grandchild); (f) a brother or sister; immediate victim, in relation to an offence, means a victim of any of the following classes: (a) a person who suffers physical injury as a result of the commission of the offence; (b) a person who suffers psychological injury as a result of being directly involved in the circumstances of the offence or in operations in the immediate aftermath of the offence to deal with its consequences; (c) if the offence was committed against a child—a parent or guardian of the child; (d) if the offence was committed against a person who dies as a result of the offence—a member of the immediate family of the deceased; injury means physical or mental injury, and includes pregnancy, mental shock and nervous shock; non-financial loss means— (a) pain and suffering; (b) loss of amenities of life; (c) loss of expectation of life; (d) disfigurement; offence includes conduct on the part of a person that would constitute an offence if it were not for that person's age or mental impairment; offender, in relation to an offence, means— (a) the person who committed the offence; or (b) in the case of conduct that would constitute an offence if it were not for the person's age or mental impairment—the person who engaged in that conduct; parent includes a person who stands in the position, and undertakes the responsibilities, of a parent; serious offence means an indictable offence— (a) that resulted in the death of, or physical harm to, a victim; or (b) that is a sexual offence within the meaning of the Evidence Act 1929, and includes an offence of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of such an offence, conspiring to commit such an offence or being an accessory after the fact to such an offence; spouse—a person is the spouse of another if they are legally married; statutory compensation means compensation under this Act; victim, in relation to an offence, means a person who suffers harm as a result of the commission of the offence (but does not include a person who was a party to the commission of the offence). (2) In this Act, if a monetary amount is followed by the word (indexed), the amount is (on or after 1 January 2016) to be adjusted on 1 January of each year by multiplying the stated amount by a proportion obtained by dividing the CPI for the September quarter of the immediately preceding year by the CPI for the September quarter, 2014, on the basis that the quotient used for the purposes of the adjustment will be calculated to 2 decimal places and that the amount obtained from the adjustment will be rounded to the nearest dollar. Part 2—Treatment of victims of crime Division 1—Explanatory provisions 5—Reasons for declaration and its effect (1) In this Part, Parliament seeks to declare the principles that should govern the way victims are dealt with by public agencies and officials. (2) The need for the declaration arises out of national and international concern about the position of victims of crime. (3) The principles— (a) are not enforceable in criminal or civil proceedings; and (b) do not give rise to any right to damages for breach; and (c) do not affect the conduct of criminal proceedings. (4) However, public agencies and officials are authorised and required to have regard, and to give effect, to the principles so far as it is practicable to do so having regard to the other obligations binding on them. Division 2—Declaration of principles governing treatment of victims 6—Fair and dignified treatment A victim should be treated— (a) with courtesy, respect and sympathy; and (b) with due regard to any special need that arises— (i) because of the victim's— • age; or • sex; or • race or ethnicity; or • cultural or linguistic background; or • physical or intellectual ability; or (ii) for any other reason. 7—Right to have perceived need for protection taken into account in bail proceedings If a police officer or a person representing the Crown in bail proceedings is made aware that the victim feels a need for protection from the alleged offender— (a) the police officer or other person must ensure that the perceived need for protection is brought to the attention of the bail authority1; and (b) reasonable efforts must be made to notify the victim of the outcome of the bail proceedings and, in particular, any condition imposed to protect the victim from the alleged offender (unless the victim indicates that he or she does not wish to be so informed). Note— 1 See also section 10(4) of the Bail Act 1985 which requires that where there is a victim of an offence, the bail authority must, in determining whether an applicant for bail should be released on bail, give primary consideration to the need that the victim may have, or perceive, for physical protection from the applicant. 8—Right to information (1) A victim should be informed, on request, about the following: (a) the progress of investigations into the offence; (b) the charge laid and details of the place and date of proceedings on the charge; (c) if a person has been charged with the offence—the name of the alleged offender1; (d) if an application for bail is made by the alleged offender—the outcome of the application; (e) if the prosecutor decides not to proceed with the charge, to amend the charge, or to accept a plea to a lesser charge or agrees with the defendant to make or support a recommendation for leniency—the reasons for the prosecutor's decision; (f) the outcome of the proceedings based on the charge and of any appeal from those proceedings; (g) details of any sentence imposed on the offender for the offence; (ga) details of any order made by a court on declaring the offender to be liable to supervision under Part 8A of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935; (h) if the offender is sentenced to imprisonment and later makes an application for release on parole—the outcome of the proceedings and, in particular, any condition imposed to protect the victim from the offender; (i) if the offender is subject to a supervision order under Part 8A of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 and the offender, or any other person, later makes an application for variation or revocation of the order or an application for review of the supervision order is made—the outcome of the proceedings and, in particular, if the offender is released on licence, any conditions imposed on the licence. (2) A victim should be informed, on request, about the following: (a) if the alleged offender absconds before trial—the fact that he or she has absconded; (b) if the offender escapes from custody—the fact that he or she has escaped; (c) if the offender, having escaped from custody, is returned to custody—the fact that he or she has been returned to custody; (d) if the release of the offender into the community is imminent—details of when the offender is to be released; (e) if the offender was ordered to undertake community service—whether the offender completed the community service; (f) if the offender was subject to a bond—whether the conditions of the bond were complied with. (3) However, a victim is not entitled to information that might jeopardise the investigation of an offence. (4) A victim should be informed, on request, about procedures that may be available to deal with a grievance the victim may have for non-recognition or inadequate recognition of the victim's rights under this Part. Note— 1 Section 64 of the Young Offenders Act 1993 provides a mechanism for exercising this right in relation to a young offender. 9—Victim to be advised on role as witness (1) A victim who is to be a witness for the prosecution at the trial of the offence should be informed by the prosecution about the trial process and the victim's rights and responsibilities as a witness for the prosecution. (2) The information should be given (if practicable) so as to allow the victim sufficient time to obtain independent advice, and arrange independent support, in relation to the exercise of those rights or the discharge of those responsibilities. 9A—Victim of serious offence entitled to be consulted in relation to certain decisions A victim of a serious offence should be consulted before any decision is made— (a) to charge the alleged offender with a particular offence; or (b) to amend a charge; or (c) to not proceed with a charge; or (d) to apply under Part 8A of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 for an investigation into the alleged offender's mental competence to commit an offence or mental fitness to stand trial. 9B—Victim's entitlement to be present in court A victim of an offence is entitled to be present in the courtroom during proceedings for the offence unless the court, in accordance with some other Act or law, orders otherwise1. Note— 1 See also section 29A of the Evidence Act 1929 (which requires that, where a victim of an offence is a witness in the proceedings, the court can only order the victim to leave the courtroom until required to give evidence if the court considers it appropriate to do so) and section 24 of the Youth Court Act 1993 (which allows a victim and a person chosen by the victim to provide support for the victim to be present during Youth Court proceedings for the relevant offence). 9C—Victim to be informed about right to have impact of offence considered by sentencing court A victim should be informed about— (a) their entitlement to have the matters referred to in section 10(1) considered by the sentencing court; and (b) the manner in which the court may use the material provided in the course of the victim exercising that entitlement, including the circumstances in which certain material may be disregarded by the court or not be read aloud to the court. 10—Victim entitled to have impact of offence considered by sentencing court and to make submissions on parole (1) A victim is entitled to have any injury, loss or damage suffered as a result of the offence considered by the sentencing court before it passes sentence1. (2) A victim of an offence is entitled to make written submissions to the Parole Board on questions affecting the parole of a person imprisoned for the offence.2 Notes— 1 The Sentencing Act 2017 provides a mechanism for exercising this right. See also that, under that Act, the prosecutor is obliged to place before the sentencing court details of injury, loss or damage resulting from the offence. 2 See section 77(2)(ba) of the Correctional Services Act 1982. 10A—Victim may request consideration of appeal (1) A victim who is dissatisfied with a determination made in relation to the relevant criminal proceedings (being a determination against which the prosecution is entitled to appeal) may request the prosecution to consider an appeal against the determination. (2) A request under this section must be made within 10 days after the making of the determination. (3) The prosecution must give due consideration to a request made under this section. 11—Victim to be informed about access to health and welfare services A victim should be informed about health and welfare services that may be available to alleviate the consequences of injury suffered as a result of the offence. 12—Rights in relation to compensation and restitution (1) A victim should have access to information about how to obtain compensation or restitution for harm suffered as a result of the offence. (2) If the prosecutor is empowered to make an application for restitution or compensation on behalf of a victim in criminal proceedings— (a) the prosecutor should bring that fact to the attention of the victim; and (b) should, if asked to do so by the victim— (i) make the application on the victim's behalf; and (ii) bring to the attention of the court any relevant information provided by the victim in connection with the application. 13—Return of property If a victim's property is taken for investigation or for use as evidence, the property should, if practicable, be returned to the victim as soon as it appears that it is no longer required for the purposes for which it was taken. 14—Protection of privacy (1) There should be no unnecessary intrusion on a victim's privacy. (2) In particular, a victim's residential address should not be disclosed unless it is material to the prosecution or defence. (3) A victim should be protected as far as practicable from unnecessary contact with the alleged offender and defence witnesses during the course of the trial and in proceedings under this Act1. (4) A victim should only be asked to attend proceedings related to the offence if the victim's attendance is genuinely necessary. Note— 1 See the Evidence Act 1929 which contains special provisions for the protection of a person who is a vulnerable witness within the meaning of that section. Part 3—Victims of Crime Advisory Committee and Commissioner for Victims' Rights Division 1—Victims of Crime Advisory Committee 15—Power to establish advisory committee (1) The Attorney-General may establish an advisory committee to advise on— (a) practical initiatives that the Government might take— (i) to ensure that victims of crime are treated with proper consideration and respect in the criminal justice system; and (ii) to help victims of crime to recover from harm suffered by them; and (iii) to advance the interests of victims of crime in other ways; and (b) any other matter referred to the advisory committee by the Attorney-General for advice. (2) A member of the advisory committee will be appointed and hold office for a term and on conditions determined by the Attorney-General. Division 2—Commissioner for Victims' Rights 16—Commissioner for Victims' Rights (1) The Governor may appoint a suitable person to be the Commissioner for Victims' Rights. (2) The person appointed as the Commissioner must not be a member of the Public Service. (3) The Commissioner has the following functions: (a) to marshal available government resources so they can be applied for the benefit of victims in the most efficient and effective way; (b) to assist victims in their dealings with prosecution authorities and other government agencies; (c) to monitor and review the effect of the law and of court practices and procedures on victims; (d) to carry out other functions related to the objects of this Act assigned by the Attorney‑General; (e) if another Act authorises or requires the Commissioner to make submissions in any proceedings—to make such submissions (either personally or through counsel); (f) to carry out any other functions assigned under other Acts. (4) The Commissioner is a member ex officio of the advisory committee. (5) The Commissioner is to be appointed on conditions determined by the Governor and for a term, not exceeding 5 years, specified in the instrument of appointment. (6) At the expiration of a term of office, the Commissioner will be eligible for re‑appointment. (7) The Governor may terminate the Commissioner's appointment if the Commissioner— (a) is guilty of misbehaviour; or (b) becomes physically or mentally incapable of carrying out official duties satisfactorily; or (c) becomes bankrupt or applies to take the benefit of a law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or (d) is absent, without leave of the Attorney‑General, for 14 consecutive days, or for 28 days in any period of 12 months. (8) Except as provided in subsection (7), the Commissioner's appointment cannot be terminated. 16A—Powers of the Commissioner (1) A public agency or official must, if requested to do so by the Commissioner, consult with the Commissioner regarding steps that may be taken by the agency or official to further the interests of— (a) victims in general; or (b) a particular victim or class of victim. (2) If, after consultation with a public agency or official, the Commissioner is satisfied that the public agency or official— (a) has failed to comply with the requirements of Part 2 in circumstances where such compliance would have been practicable; and (b) has not apologised or otherwise dealt with the victim in relation to the failure in a satisfactory way, the Commissioner may, by notice in writing to the public agency or official, recommend that the agency or official issue a written apology to the relevant victim. (3) The Commissioner must provide the relevant victim with a copy of the notice given under subsection (2). (4) The Commissioner must, in his or her report under section 16F, specify the number of notices given by the Commissioner under subsection (2), and the public agencies or officials to whom the notices were given, during the year to which the report relates. (5) The Commissioner must, in exercising his or her powers in relation to a particular victim, have regard to the wishes of that victim. 16B—Appointment of acting Commissioner (1) If the Commissioner is temporarily absent, or the Commissioner's position is temporarily vacant, the Attorney‑General may assign a suitable person to act in the Commissioner's position during the temporary absence or vacancy. (2) A person who is a member of the Public Service is eligible to act in the Commissioner's position. (3) The terms on which a person is assigned to act in the Commissioner's position will be as determined by the Attorney‑General. (4) A person appointed to act in the Commissioner's position has, while so acting, all the functions and powers of the Commissioner. 16C—Staff (1) The Commissioner will have such staff as is necessary for the effective performance of his or her functions. (2) The Commissioner's staff will consist of Public Service employees. 16D—Delegation (1) The Commissioner may delegate to a body or person (including a person for the time being holding or acting in a specified office or position) a function or power of the Commissioner under this or any other Act. (2) A delegation under this section— (a) must be by instrument in writing; and (b) may be absolute or conditional; and (c) does not derogate from the power of the Commissioner to act in any matter; and (d) is revocable at will. (3) A function or power delegated under this section may, if the instrument of delegation so provides, be further delegated. 16E—Independence of Commissioner (1) Subject to this section, the Commissioner is entirely independent of direction or control by the Crown or any Minister or officer of the Crown. (2) The Attorney‑General may, after consultation with the Commissioner, give directions and furnish guidelines to the Commissioner in relation to the carrying out of his or her functions. (3) Directions or guidelines under this section— (a) must, as soon as practicable after they have been given, be published in the Gazette; and (b) must, within 6 sitting days after they have been given, be laid before each House of Parliament. 16F—Annual report (1) The Commissioner must, on or before 30 September in each year, present a report to the Attorney‑General on the operations of the Commissioner during the previous financial year. (2) The Attorney‑General must, within 12 sitting days after receipt of a report under this section, cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament. Part 4—Compensation 17—Eligibility to make claim (1) A person is eligible to claim statutory compensation for injury caused by an offence if— (a) the person is an immediate victim of the offence; and (b) at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) the offence involved the use of violence or a threat of violence against the person or a member of the person's immediate family; (ii) the offence created a reasonable apprehension of imminent harm to the person or a member of the person's immediate family; (iii) the offence is a sexual offence; (iv) the offence caused death or physical injury. (2) A person is eligible to claim statutory compensation for grief suffered in consequence of the commission of a homicide if the person is— (a) a spouse or domestic partner of the deceased victim; or (ab) a child of the deceased victim (if the child was under the age of 18 at the time of the offence); or (b) where the deceased victim was a child—a parent of the deceased victim. (3) A person is eligible to claim statutory compensation for financial loss suffered by the dependants of a deceased victim if— (a) the victim died as a result of the injury caused by the offence; and (b) no previous order for statutory compensation has been made in respect of the injury; and (c) the person is, in the opinion of the court, a suitable person to represent the interests of the dependants. (4) A person is eligible to claim statutory compensation for funeral expenses if— (a) a victim dies in consequence of the offence; and (b) the person has paid, or is responsible for payment of, the victim's funeral expenses. (5) However— (a) a person is not entitled to statutory compensation if the injury arises from a breach of statutory duty by the person's employer that occurs in the course of the person's employment; and (b) a person is not entitled to statutory compensation if the person has received, or is entitled to receive, a payment or damages in respect of death or non‑economic loss for the same harm under the Return to Work Act 2014; and (c) a person is not entitled to statutory compensation if the injury is caused by, or arises out of the use of, a motor vehicle in circumstances in which the injury falls within the ambit of a compulsory third-party insurance scheme covering the motor vehicle (whether the vehicle is in fact insured under the scheme or an action for damages lies against a nominal defendant); and (d) a person is not entitled to statutory compensation for hospital or medical expenses that would, if no award for compensation were made, be recoverable from a health fund or scheme; and (e) a prisoner is not entitled to statutory compensation for psychological injury resulting from an offence committed in the prison unless the prisoner was assaulted or suffered physical injury. (6) If— (a) a payment or damages under the Return to Work Act 2014; and (b) statutory compensation, are paid for the same harm, the payment of statutory compensation does not give rise to a right to recovery under the Return to Work Act 2014. Note— Note that this provision will only apply in the comparatively rare cases where the entitlement under the Return to Work Act 2014 does not operate to the exclusion of a right to statutory compensation under subsection (5)(b) above. 18—Application for compensation (1) A person who is eligible to claim statutory compensation may, within the initial application period, apply for statutory compensation. (2) The initial application period is— (a) for an application by a victim—5 years after the commission of the offence; (b) for an application arising from the death of a victim—5 years after the date of death. (3) An application is to be made in the first instance to the Crown Solicitor. (4) The following requirements apply to and in relation to the application: (a) the application must— (i) contain the information required by the regulations; and (ii) be accompanied by any medical reports relevant to the injury in the possession of, or accessible to, the claimant; and (iii) be accompanied by any further documents required under the regulations; and (b) the information contained in an application must be verified by statutory declaration. (4a) If— (a) the claimant is a child or other person who is not of full legal capacity; and (b) the Crown Solicitor and the person acting on behalf of the claimant propose to settle the claim for statutory compensation by agreement; and (c) an application is made to a court for an order or orders in respect of that agreement, the offender must not be joined as a party to the proceedings before the court on that application. (5) If a claim for statutory compensation has not been settled by agreement between the Crown Solicitor and the claimant within 3 months after the application is made or a longer period agreed between the Crown Solicitor and the claimant (the period for negotiation), the claimant may apply to the court for an order for statutory compensation. (6) An application to the court under subsection (5) must be made on or before the later of the following: (a) the end of the initial application period; or (b) the end of the period of 6 months that follows immediately after the end of the period for negotiation. (7) The court may, for any proper reason, extend a period of limitation fixed by this section. 19—Joinder of offender as party to court proceedings (1) If an application for statutory compensation is made to the court, the offender is (subject to this section) to be a party to the proceedings before the court. (2) A claimant who makes an application to the court must (subject to this section) serve a copy of the application on the offender. (3) The above requirements are subject to the following qualifications: (a) if the identity of the offender is not known, there is no need to serve a copy of the application on the offender and the offender does not, in that case, become a party to the proceedings; (b) the court may, on application by a claimant, exempt the claimant from the obligation to serve a copy of the application on the offender and, if such an exemption is granted, the offender is not a party to the proceedings. 20—Orders for compensation (1) Subject to this Act, on an application for statutory compensation, the court may order— (a) that the victim be paid by the Crown such amount as the court thinks fit by way of compensation for the injury arising from the offence; or (b) that the dependants of a dead victim be paid by the Crown such amount as the court thinks fit by way of compensation for the financial loss suffered by them (to be proportioned between the various claimants as the court thinks fit); or (c) in the case of an application for compensation for grief—that a claimant be paid by the Crown such amount (not exceeding $20 000 (indexed)) as the Court thinks fit by way of compensation for the grief suffered by the claimant; or (d) in the case of an application for compensation for funeral expenses—that the claimant be paid— (i) the amount of funeral expenses incurred by the claimant; or (ii) $14 000 (indexed), whichever is the lesser. (2) If the Crown consents to the making of an order for statutory compensation, the court may, without further inquiry, make an order on terms agreed by the claimant and the Crown but— (a) the settlement does not bind the offender in any way unless the offender was a party to the settlement agreement; and (b) the settlement does not limit rights that the claimant may have independently of this Act against the offender (whether or not the offender is a party to the settlement). (3) In awarding statutory compensation, the court must observe the following rules: (a) in the case of an award under subsection (1)(a) or (b)— (i) if financial loss is to be compensated and the amount that would, but for this subparagraph, be awarded exceeds $2 000, the amount awarded will, subject to subparagraph (iii), be $2 000 plus three-quarters of the excess; and (ii) if a claim for non-financial loss is made— • the total non-financial loss must be assigned a numerical value on a scale running from 0 to 60 (the greater the severity of the non-financial loss, the greater the number); and • if the numerical value so assigned is 2 or less, no award will be made for non-financial loss but, if the numerical value exceeds 2, the amount awarded will be the amount determined in accordance with Schedule a1 as corresponding to the number so assigned; and (iii) in any case—where an amount arrived at to compensate financial loss, or the aggregate of amounts arrived at to compensate financial loss and non-financial loss, would, but for this subparagraph, exceed $100 000 (indexed), the amount awarded will be $100 000 (indexed); (c) subject to the following qualifications, statutory compensation amounting in aggregate to more than $100 000 (indexed) cannot be awarded to any single claimant. Qualifications— 1 If the claimant claims both as a dependant or representative of the dependants of a deceased victim and in some other capacity, the limitation applies separately to each capacity in which the claimant claims. 2 An amount to which an applicant is entitled by way of funeral expenses will not be brought into account in determining whether the limitation has been exceeded. (4) In determining an application for, and the quantum of, statutory compensation, the court must have regard to— (a) any conduct on the part of the victim (whether or not forming part of the circumstances immediately surrounding the offence or injury) that contributed, directly or indirectly, to the commission of the offence, or to the injury to the victim; and (b) such other circumstances as it considers relevant. (5) The court must not make an order for compensation in respect of injury to a claimant caused by an offence if the court— (a) is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the injury to the claimant occurred while the claimant was engaged in conduct constituting an indictable offence; and (b) is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the claimant's conduct contributed materially to the risk of injury to the claimant, (unless the court is satisfied that, in the circumstances of the particular claim, failure to compensate would be unjust). (5a) The court must not make an order for compensation for grief or funeral expenses in favour of a claimant if the court— (a) is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the victim's death occurred while the claimant was engaged in conduct constituting an indictable offence; and (b) is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the claimant's conduct contributed materially to the death of the victim, (unless the court is satisfied that, in the circumstances of the particular claim, failure to compensate would be unjust). (6) For the purposes of subsections (5)(a) and (5a)(a), a relevant conviction or acquittal is to be regarded as conclusive of the claimant's guilt or innocence of the indictable offence. (7) The court must not make an order for compensation in favour of a claimant if it appears to the court that the claimant, without good reason— (a) failed to report the offence to the police within a reasonable time after its commission; or (b) refused or failed to provide information to the police that was within the claimant's knowledge as to the offender's identity or whereabouts; or (c) refused or failed to give evidence in the prosecution of the offender; or (d) otherwise refused or failed to co-operate properly in the investigation or prosecution of the offence, and, in consequence, investigation or prosecution of the offence was not commenced or was terminated or hindered to a significant extent. (8) In deciding the amount of compensation to be awarded, the court must take into account— (a) any failure by the claimant to avail himself or herself of proper medical treatment or rehabilitative therapy; or (b) any other failure to take proper steps to mitigate his or her loss. (9) No interest may be awarded by the court in respect of the whole or any part of the amount of statutory compensation ordered. (10) If the court has made an order for compensation under this section— (a) it must, where the offender has been convicted, or adjudged or found guilty, of the offence, endorse on or annex to the order a statement of the offender's means (so far as they are ascertainable by the court); and (b) it must endorse on or annex to the order a statement of any payments that the claimant has received, or would, were the claimant to exhaust all other available remedies, be likely to receive, in respect of the injury or the death of the victim, apart from this Act. (11) The court may make such orders for the costs of proceedings under this Act as the court thinks fit. 21—Medical examination of claimant (1) A claimant must, if the Crown so requires, submit himself or herself for medical examination by a medical practitioner nominated by the Crown. (2) The costs of the medical examination, and any expenses reasonably incurred by the claimant in complying with the request for the examination, must be borne by the Crown. (3) If an offender is a party to proceedings under this Act, the court may, on application by the offender, order a claimant to submit himself or herself for medical examination by an appropriate medical practitioner (at the offender's expense). (4) The court may order that the proceedings on an application for statutory compensation be stayed until a medical examination has been completed. (5) A party must, on receiving the report of the medical practitioner on the results of the examination, furnish the other parties with a copy of the report. 22—Evidence and proof (1) Subject to this Act, any fact to be proved by a claimant in proceedings under this Act is sufficiently proved if it is proved on the balance of probabilities. (2) No order for statutory compensation may be made (except by consent of the Crown) on an application unless— (a) the commission of the offence to which the application relates— (i) has been admitted, or proved beyond reasonable doubt, in proceedings before a court; or (ii) has been admitted in statutory proceedings related to the offence or can be reasonably inferred from admissions made in any such proceedings; and (b) the other facts on which the application is based have been proved on the balance of probabilities. (3) If an order for compensation is sought in respect of an offence, and no person has been brought to trial charged with the offence, the evidence of the claimant as to the commission of the offence, unless supported in a material particular by corroborative evidence, is not sufficient to establish the commission of the offence. (4) In proceedings under this Act, the court may receive in evidence a transcript of evidence in proceedings in any other court, and may draw any conclusions of fact that it considers proper. 23—Joint offences (1) If an application is made for statutory compensation in respect of injury suffered by a victim, financial loss suffered by a dependant, or grief suffered by a spouse, domestic partner or parent, in consequence of an offence committed by more than one offender, the court may make only one order for statutory compensation in respect of that injury, loss or grief. (2) If an application is made for statutory compensation in respect of injury suffered by a victim, financial loss suffered by a dependant, or grief suffered by a spouse, domestic partner or parent— (a) in consequence of a series of offences committed consecutively by one offender, or a series of offences committed simultaneously or consecutively by offenders acting in concert; or (b) in circumstances in which those offences constitute a single incident, the court may make only one order for statutory compensation in respect of the injury, loss or grief. 24—Appeals (1) A party to proceedings under this Act may, subject to the rules of the Supreme Court, appeal to the Court of Appeal against any final order made by the court in those proceedings. (2) However, if an order for statutory compensation is made by consent of the Crown, the offender cannot appeal against that order1. (3) The Court of Appeal may— (a) dismiss the appeal; or (b) quash the order and, if it thinks fit, substitute any other order that the court in the first instance could have made; or (c) vary the order in any respect; or (d) remit the subject matter of the appeal for rehearing, and may make such other ancillary orders (including, subject to this Act, orders relating to the costs of the appeal) as it thinks fit. Note— 1 Note that in these circumstances, the order does not necessarily bind the offender when the Crown applies for reimbursement—see section 28. 25—Legal costs and disbursements (1) Despite any Act or law to the contrary— (a) costs awarded in proceedings under this Act must not exceed the amounts prescribed by regulation in relation to such costs (plus GST) as at the time of commencement of the proceedings; and (b) a legal practitioner must neither charge nor seek to recover in respect of proceedings under this Act an amount by way of costs in excess of the amount prescribed by regulation in relation to such costs (plus GST) as at the time of commencement of the proceedings. (2) The regulations may make provision in relation to the recovery of disbursements by a legal practitioner in relation to a claim for statutory compensation. (3) In this section— GST means the tax payable under the GST law; GST law means— (a) A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Commonwealth); and (b) the related legislation of the Commonwealth dealing with the imposition of a tax on the supply of goods, services and other things. 26—Representation of Crown in proceedings The Crown may be represented by any person nominated by the Attorney-General in preliminary or interlocutory proceedings under this Act or at a hearing for an order under this Act to be made by consent. Part 5—Payment of compensation 27—Payment of compensation etc by Attorney-General (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Attorney-General must satisfy an order for statutory compensation (or for statutory compensation and costs) within 28 days of— (a) the day on which a copy of the order is lodged by the claimant with the Attorney-General; or (b) if an appeal has been instituted against the order, the day on which the appeal is withdrawn or determined, whichever is the later. (2) If— (a) the claimant has received or is entitled to payments apart from this Act in respect of the injury or loss (other payments); and (b) the Attorney-General is satisfied that, in view of the other payments, it is just to exercise the powers conferred by this subsection, the Attorney-General may decline to satisfy an order for statutory compensation (or for statutory compensation and costs), or may reduce the payment to be made to the extent it appears just to do so. (3) In the exercise of the discretion conferred by subsection (2), the Attorney-General— (a) should have regard to the extent to which the other payments represent an adequate compensation for the injury or loss; and (b) should (in appropriate cases) have regard to the extent to which the other payments compensate (or would compensate) the claimant for pain, suffering and other non-economic loss; and (c) if the other payments do not, in the Attorney-General's opinion, represent an adequate compensation for pain, suffering and other non-economic loss, should not reduce the amount to be paid under this Act below the lesser of the following two amounts: (i) the amount that represents the extent of the deficiency; (ii) $10 000 (indexed). (4) The Attorney-General has an absolute discretion to make the following payments: (a) an interim payment of compensation (not exceeding the limits prescribed by this Act in relation to an order for compensation) to a claimant who, in the opinion of the Attorney-General, is in necessitous circumstances and is likely to be awarded statutory compensation; or (b) an ex gratia payment (not exceeding the limits prescribed by this Act in relation to an order for compensation) to a person in the following circumstances: (i) the person suffers injury, financial loss or grief in consequence of conduct alleged to constitute an offence; (ii) the alleged offender is acquitted of the offence; (iii) the acquittal appears to the Attorney-General to have arisen— • in a case of rape—from lack of mens rea; • in any other case—from duress, drunkenness or automatism; (iv) the person would, in the Attorney-General's opinion, probably have been awarded statutory compensation if the offence had been established; or (c) an ex gratia payment (not exceeding the limits prescribed by this Act in relation to an order for compensation) to the victim of conduct capable of constituting the objective elements of an offence if it appears to the Attorney-General that, because of lack of evidence, absence of capacity to incur criminal responsibility or other matters personal to the perpetrator, or for any other reason that does not reflect adversely on the victim, an offence has not been, or cannot be, established; or (d) an ex gratia payment (not exceeding the limits prescribed by this Act in relation to an order for compensation) to a person in the following circumstances: (i) the person suffers injury, financial loss or grief in consequence of an offence committed outside this State; (ii) the victim is at the time of the commission of the offence ordinarily resident in this State; (iii) some person is convicted of the offence; (iv) if the law of the place where the offence is committed establishes a right to compensation—the claimant has taken reasonable steps to obtain compensation under that law but without success; (v) the claimant would, in the Attorney-General's opinion, probably have been awarded statutory compensation if the offence had been committed in this State; (vi) the claimant is, in the Attorney-General's opinion, in necessitous circumstances; or (e) such other ex gratia payments (not exceeding, in any particular case, the limits prescribed by this Act in relation to an order for compensation) as the Attorney-General considers necessary, and consistent with the objects and policy of this Act, to compensate harm resulting from criminal conduct or conduct of the kind described above. (5) A decision by the Attorney-General in the exercise of a discretion under this section cannot be challenged or called in question before any court. 28—Right of Attorney-General to recover money paid out from offender etc (1) If the Attorney-General makes a payment to a claimant, the Attorney-General is subrogated, to the extent of the payment, to the rights of— (a) the claimant, as against the offender or any other person liable at law to compensate the claimant for the injury, financial loss or grief in respect of which the payment was made; and (b) the offender, as against any insurer or other person from whom the offender is entitled to indemnity or contribution in respect of liability arising from the injury or death in respect of which the payment was made. (2) The Attorney-General may— (a) bring a claim against an insurer or other person against whom the subrogated right lies by way of third party proceedings in the proceedings founded on the application for statutory compensation; or (b) bring such a claim in separate proceedings against the person against whom the subrogated right lies (including an offender who was not a party to the proceedings founded on the application for statutory compensation). (3) If the offender is a party to proceedings founded on an application for statutory compensation— (a) the Attorney-General may file in the court a certificate certifying— (i) the amount of the statutory compensation paid out on the claim; and (ii) the applicant's costs (so far as they have been or are to be paid by the Crown); and (b) judgment must then be entered in favour of the Crown and against the offender for the aggregate amount so certified. (4) However, if the claim was settled by agreement between the Crown and the claimant, and the offender was not a party to the agreement for settlement— (a) the offender may, within 1 month after the offender receives notice of a judgment entered under subsection (3), apply to have the judgment set aside or varied as may be reasonable in the circumstances of the case; and (b) the court may set aside the judgment or vary it accordingly. (5) If an application for statutory compensation is settled without court proceedings, or proceedings were brought in court but the offender was not a party to those proceedings, the Attorney-General may— (a) file in the court a certificate certifying— (i) the amount of the statutory compensation paid out on the claim; and (ii) the applicant's costs (so far as they have been or are to be paid by the Crown); and (b) apply for summary judgment in favour of the Crown and against the offender for the aggregate amount so certified (or a lesser amount if the Attorney‑General thinks fit). (6) The court must, on an application by the Attorney-General under subsection (5), enter summary judgment in accordance with the application unless the offender satisfies the court, on application made by the offender within 1 month after receiving notice of the Attorney-General's application, that there is good reason for not entering judgment in accordance with the Attorney-General's application. (7) If a debt arises from a judgment entered in favour of the Crown and against an offender in accordance with this section, the Chief Recovery Officer may take action on behalf of the Crown to recover the debt and for that purpose may, subject to subsection (8), exercise any power or do any thing that the Chief Recovery Officer is authorised or required to exercise or do in relation to an enforcement determination under the Fines Enforcement and Debt Recovery Act 2017 as if— (a) the debt that may be recovered from the offender in accordance with this section was the amount due under the expiation notice to which the enforcement determination relates; and (b) the offender was a person against whom enforcement action was being taken. (8) The Chief Recovery Officer, in acting under subsection (7) in relation to an offender— (a) may not enter into an arrangement requiring the offender to complete community service under section 20 of the Fines Enforcement and Debt Recovery Act 2017; and (b) may only waive payment under section 25 of that Act with the approval of the Attorney‑General. (9) Section 26 of the Fines Enforcement and Debt Recovery Act 2017 does not apply to a debt to be recovered under this section. (10) Section 9 of the Fines Enforcement and Debt Recovery Act 2017 applies in relation to a debt under this section in the same way as it applies to an expiation amount (other than an expiation fee). 29—Recovery from claimant (1) If the Attorney-General makes an interim payment of statutory compensation to a claimant and no order for statutory compensation is subsequently made in favour of that claimant, or an order is made but for a lesser amount, the Attorney-General may recover the amount so paid or the amount of the excess (as the case requires) from the claimant as a debt. (2) If— (a) the Attorney-General makes a payment under this Act to a claimant; and (b) the claimant is subsequently paid compensation or damages by some other person for the injury, financial loss or grief for which the payment under this Act was made; and (c) the compensation or damages received from the other source was not taken into account by the Attorney-General in making the payment or exceeds the amount taken into account by the Attorney-General, the Attorney-General may recover from the claimant, as a debt, the amount of the payment or the amount of the excess (as the case requires) but may not recover more than the amount received from the other source. (3) A claimant referred to in subsection (2) must, within 30 days after being paid compensation or damages referred to in subsection (2)(b), notify the Attorney‑General in writing of the payment (and including any particulars prescribed by the regulations). Maximum penalty: $1 250. Part 6—Victims of Crime Fund 30—Victims of Crime Fund (1) The Fund previously known as the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund continues in existence as the Victims of Crime Fund. (2) The Fund consists of— (a) the money provided by Parliament for the purposes of the Fund; and (b) any amounts paid into the Fund under subsection (3); and (c) any amounts recovered by way of levy under this Part; and (d) any amounts recovered by the Attorney-General under this Act; and (e) any money paid into the Fund under any other Act. (3) In each financial year, the prescribed proportion of the aggregate amount paid into General Revenue by way of fines will be paid into the Fund. (5) A deficiency in the Fund will be met from the Consolidated Account. 31—Payments from Fund (a1) The following payments must be made from the Fund: (a) all payments made by the Attorney‑General under this Act; (b) the salary of the Commissioner; (c) the salaries of other staff of the Commissioner if those staff are designated by the Attorney‑General as being staff to whom this provision applies. (1) The Attorney-General has an absolute discretion to make payments from the Fund to a government or non-government organisation or agency for a purpose that will, in the Attorney-General's opinion, assist in the prevention of crime or advance the interests of victims of crime. (2) The Attorney-General also has an absolute discretion to make other payments from the Fund to or for the benefit of victims of crime that will, in the Attorney-General's opinion, help them to recover from the effects of crime or advance their interests in other ways. (3) A decision by the Attorney-General in the exercise of a discretion under this section cannot be challenged or called in question before any court. 32—Imposition of levy (1) A levy is imposed for the purpose of providing a source of revenue for the Fund. (2) Subject to this section and any exceptions prescribed by the regulations, the levy is imposed on— (a) all persons convicted of offences after the commencement of this section (whether the offence was committed before or after the commencement of this section); and (b) all persons who expiate offences under expiation notices issued after the commencement of this section. (3) A levy is not imposed on a person convicted of an offence if the person has paid the levy under an expiation notice issued for the same offence. (3a) A court may, at the time of convicting or sentencing a person under the age of 18 years for an offence, exonerate the defendant from liability to pay the levy in relation to that offence. (4) The amount of the levy is to be fixed by regulation. (5) The amount of the levy may vary according to any one or more of the following factors: (a) the nature of the offence; (b) whether the offence is a summary or an indictable offence; (c) whether or not the offence is expiated; (ca) whether the offence is expiated by payment of the expiation fee, or other arrangements in relation to payment of the expiation fee, during the expiation period or otherwise; (d) whether or not the offender is an adult; (e) variations in the consumer price index. (6) If a levy is payable under this section by a person who expiates an offence, the amount of the levy must be shown on the expiation notice. (7) If a levy is payable under this section by a person who is convicted of an offence— (a) the amount of the levy must be shown in— (i) any formal record of the conviction and sentence; and (ii) any notice of the conviction and sentence given to the defendant; and (iii) any warrant of commitment issued for the imprisonment of the defendant for the offence; and (b) subject to subsection (3a), the court may not, at the time of convicting or sentencing the defendant for the offence, reduce the levy or exonerate the defendant from liability to pay it; and (c) the levy is recoverable under the Sentencing Act 2017. (8) Despite subsection (2), the Chief Recovery Officer or an issuing authority (within the meaning of the Expiation of Offences Act 1996) may recover a levy before it becomes payable under this section. Part 7—Miscellaneous 32A—Victim may exercise rights through an appropriate representative (1) Rights granted to a victim under this, or any other, Act may be exercised on behalf of the victim by an appropriate representative chosen by the victim for that purpose. Note— Such rights would include (without limitation) the right to request information under this or any other Act, the right to make a claim for compensation under this or any other Act and the right to furnish a victim impact statement under the Sentencing Act 2017. (2) This section does not apply to rights, or rights of a kind, prescribed by the regulations. (3) In this section— appropriate representative, in relation to a victim, means any of the following: (a) an officer of the court; (b) the Commissioner for Victims' Rights or a person acting on behalf of the Commissioner for Victims' Rights; (c) an officer or employee of an organisation whose functions consist of, or include, the provision of support or services to victims of crime; (d) a relative of the victim; (e) another person who, in the opinion of the Commissioner for Victims' Rights, would be suitable to act as an appropriate representative. 33—Interaction between this Act and other laws This Act does not exclude or derogate from rights to damages or compensation that exist apart from this Act. 34—Date as at which compensation is to be assessed If a person is entitled to statutory compensation, the amount of the compensation must be assessed in accordance with the provisions of this Act as in force at the time of the commission of the offence from which the injury arose. 34A—Disclosure of information The Crown Solicitor may (despite any other Act or law) disclose to a victim any information that the Crown Solicitor has relating to the whereabouts of an offender or any means of contacting an offender, for the purpose of facilitating the service of documents on the offender by or on behalf of the victim. 35—Delegation (1) The Attorney-General may, by instrument in writing, delegate to a specified person, or the holder of a specified position, any of the Attorney-General's powers or functions under this Act. (2) A delegation under this section— (a) may be made subject to conditions or limitations; and (b) is revocable at will and does not derogate from the power of the Attorney-General to act in any matter. (3) However, a delegation cannot be made under this section of the Attorney-General's power to decline to satisfy an order for statutory compensation (or for statutory compensation and costs) or to reduce the payment to be made under such an order1. Note— 1 See section 27(2). 36—Annual report (1) The administrative unit of the Public Service responsible, under the Attorney-General, for the administration of this Act must, on or before 30 September in each year, present a report to the Attorney-General on the operation and administration of this Act during the previous financial year. (2) A report required under this section may be incorporated in the annual report of the relevant administrative unit. (3) The Attorney-General must, within 12 sittings days after receipt of a report under this section, cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament. 37—Regulations (1) The Governor may make regulations for the purposes of this Act. (2) The regulations may— (a) be of general or limited application; and (b) make different provision according to the persons, things or circumstances to which they are expressed to apply; and (c) be brought into operation on a date specified in the regulations that is earlier than the date of its publication in the Gazette. Schedule a1—Compensation amounts for non‑financial loss (section 20(3)(a)) Numerical value assigned Corresponding amount 1 $1 000 (indexed) 2 $2 000 (indexed) 3 $4 000 (indexed) 4 $5 000 (indexed) 5 $6 000 (indexed) 6 $7 000 (indexed) 7 $8 000 (indexed) 8 $9 000 (indexed) 9 $10 000 (indexed) 10 $11 000 (indexed) 11 $12 000 (indexed) 12 $13 000 (indexed) 13 $14 000 (indexed) 14 $15 000 (indexed) 15 $16 000 (indexed) 16 $17 000 (indexed) 17 $18 000 (indexed) 18 $19 000 (indexed) 19 $20 000 (indexed) 20 $21 000 (indexed) 21 $22 000 (indexed) 22 $23 000 (indexed) 23 $24 000 (indexed) 24 $25 000 (indexed) 25 $26 000 (indexed) 26 $27 000 (indexed) 27 $28 000 (indexed) 28 $29 000 (indexed) 29 $30 000 (indexed) 30 $31 000 (indexed) 31 $32 867 (indexed) 32 $34 733 (indexed) 33 $36 600 (indexed) 34 $38 467 (indexed) 35 $40 333 (indexed) 36 $42 200 (indexed) 37 $44 067 (indexed) 38 $45 933 (indexed) 39 $47 800 (indexed) 40 $49 667 (indexed) 41 $52 000 (indexed) 42 $54 333 (indexed) 43 $56 667 (indexed) 44 $59 000 (indexed) 45 $61 333 (indexed) 46 $63 667 (indexed) 47 $66 000 (indexed) 48 $68 333 (indexed) 49 $70 667 (indexed) 50 $73 000 (indexed) 51 $75 800 (indexed) 52 $78 600 (indexed) 53 $81 400 (indexed) 54 $84 200 (indexed) 55 $87 000 (indexed) 56 $89 800 (indexed) 57 $92 600 (indexed) 58 $95 400 (indexed) 59 $98 200 (indexed) 60 $100 000 (indexed) Schedule 1—Repeal and transitional provisions 1—Repeal of Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1978 The Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1978 (the repealed Act) is repealed. 2—Transitional provision (1) Subject to subclause (2), the repealed Act applies to an application for compensation in respect of an injury arising from an offence committed before the commencement of this Act. (2) However, if compensation (other than interim compensation) had not been paid under the repealed Act before the commencement of this Act, Part 5 of this Act applies to the exclusion of the corresponding provisions of the repealed Act as if the order for compensation were an order under this Act. (3) This Act applies to a claim for statutory compensation for an injury caused by an offence committed on or after the commencement of this Schedule. (4) Without derogating from section 37, the Governor may make regulations under this Act for the purposes of applications referred to in subclause (1) (including any regulation that could have been made under the repealed Act as in force immediately before its repeal). (5) The Criminal Injuries Compensation Regulations 2002 continue to have effect for the purposes of subclause (1) until revoked by regulations made under this Act (and Part 3A of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1978 does not apply, and is taken never to have applied, to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Regulations 2002 as so continued). 3—Operation of certain amendments An amendment made by a provision of the Statutes Amendment (Domestic Partners) Act 2006 to this Act applies only in relation to a claim for statutory compensation for an injury caused by an offence committed after the commencement of the amendment. Legislative history Notes • Please note—References in the legislation to other legislation or instruments or to titles of bodies or offices are not automatically updated as part of the program for the revision and publication of legislation and therefore may be obsolete. • Earlier versions of this Act (historical versions) are listed at the end of the legislative history. • For further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au. Legislation amended by principal Act The Victims of Crime Act 2001 amended the following: Correctional Services Act 1982 Criminal Assets Confiscation Act 1996 Criminal Law (Sentencing) Act 1988 District Court Act 1991 Expiation of Offences Act 1996 Stamp Duties Act 1923 Principal Act and amendments New entries appear in bold. Year No Title Assent Commencement 2001 58 Victims of Crime Act 2001 15.11.2001 1.1.2003 (Gazette 19.12.2002 p4736) 2006 43 Statutes Amendment (Domestic Partners) Act 2006 14.12.2006 Pt 92 (ss 218—222)—1.6.2007 (Gazette 26.4.2007 p1352) 2007 47 Victims of Crime (Commissioner for Victims' Rights) Amendment Act 2007 8.11.2007 Pt 2 (ss 4—8)—17.7.2008 (Gazette 17.7.2008 p3373) 2007 48 Statutes Amendment (Victims of Crime) Act 2007 8.11.2007 Pt 5 (ss 7—17)—17.7.2008 (Gazette 17.7.2008 p3372) 2009 79 Statutes Amendment (Victims of Crime) Act 2009 10.12.2009 Pt 6 (ss 20—23)—19.9.2010 (Gazette 16.9.2010 p4868) 2013 31 Statutes Amendment (Fines Enforcement and Recovery) Act 2013 1.8.2013 Pt 11 (ss 48 & 49)—3.2.2014 (Gazette 30.1.2014 p422) 2015 16 Statutes Amendment (Vulnerable Witnesses) Act 2015 6.8.2015 Pt 8 (s 33)—1.7.2016 (Gazette 23.6.2016 p2618) 2016 8 Victims of Crime (Compensation) Amendment Act 2016 17.3.2016 1.7.2015 except s 11—17.3.2016: s 2 2016 62 Statutes Amendment (Courts and Justice Measures) Act 2016 8.12.2016 Pt 9 (s 15)—8.12.2016: s 2(1) 2017 53 Statutes Amendment (Sentencing) Act 2017 28.11.2017 Pt 22 (ss 33 to 35)—30.4.2018 (Gazette 6.2.2018 p612) 2017 71 Fines Enforcement and Debt Recovery Act 2017 12.12.2017 Sch 1 (cll 33 & 34)—30.4.2018 (Gazette 6.2.2018 p609) 2019 15 Victims of Crime (Offender Service and Joinder) Amendment Act 2019 11.7.2019 2.9.2019 (Gazette 22.8.2019 p3106) 2019 45 Supreme Court (Court of Appeal) Amendment Act 2019 19.12.2019 Sch 1 (cl 87)—1.1.2021 (Gazette 10.12.2020 p5638) 2024 59 Statutes Amendment (Victims of Crime) Act 2024 5.12.2024 Pt 3 (ss 5 & 6)—1.4.2025 (Gazette 27.3.2025 p530) Provisions amended New entries appear in bold. Entries that relate to provisions that have been deleted appear in italics. Provision How varied Commencement Long title amended under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 Pt 1 s 2 omitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 s 3 amended by 48/2007 s 7 17.7.2008 amended by 8/2016 s 4 1.7.2015 s 4 s 4(1) s 4 redesignated as s 4(1) by 8/2016 s 5(2) 1.7.2015 Commissioner inserted by 47/2007 s 4 17.7.2008 CPI inserted by 8/2016 s 5(1) 1.7.2015 custody inserted by 48/2007 s 8(1) 17.7.2008 dependants amended by 43/2006 s 218(1) 1.6.2007 domestic partner inserted by 43/2006 s 218(2) 1.6.2007 homicide amended by 79/2009 s 20 19.9.2010 immediate family amended by 43/2006 s 218(3) 1.6.2007 offender substituted by 48/2007 s 8(2) 17.7.2008 serious offence inserted by 48/2007 s 8(3) 17.7.2008 spouse substituted by 43/2006 s 218(4) 1.6.2007 s 4(2) inserted by 8/2016 s 5(2) 1.7.2015 Pt 2 heading substituted by 48/2007 s 9 17.7.2008 Pt 2 Div 1 s 5 s 5(1) amended by 48/2007 s 10(1) 17.7.2008 s 5(2) amended by 48/2007 s 10(2) 17.7.2008 Pt 2 Div 2 heading amended by 48/2007 s 11 17.7.2008 s 6 amended by 16/2015 s 33 1.7.2016 s 7 substituted by 48/2007 s 12 17.7.2008 s 8 s 8(1) amended by 48/2007 s 13(1)—(3) 17.7.2008 s 8(2) amended by 48/2007 s 13(4) 17.7.2008 ss 9A and 9B inserted by 48/2007 s 14 17.7.2008 s 9C inserted by 59/2024 s 5 1.4.2025 s 10 amended by 53/2017 s 33 30.4.2018 s 10A inserted by 48/2007 s 15 17.7.2008 Pt 3 heading substituted by 47/2007 s 5 17.7.2008 Pt 3 Div 1 heading inserted by 47/2007 s 5 17.7.2008 Pt 3 Div 2 heading inserted by 47/2007 s 6 17.7.2008 s 16 substituted by 47/2007 s 6 17.7.2008 ss 16A—16F inserted by 47/2007 s 6 17.7.2008 Pt 4 s 17 s 17(2) amended by 43/2006 s 219 1.6.2007 amended by 8/2016 s 6(1) 1.7.2015 s 17(5) amended by 8/2016 s 6(2) 1.7.2015 s 17(6) substituted by 8/2016 s 6(3) 1.7.2015 s 18 s 18(2) amended by 59/2024 s 6(1), (2) 1.4.2025 s 18(4) (c) deleted by 15/2019 s 4 2.9.2019 s 18(4a) inserted by 48/2007 s 16 17.7.2008 s 19 s 19(3) amended by 15/2019 s 5 2.9.2019 s 20 s 20(1) amended by 43/2006 s 220(1) 1.6.2007 amended by 48/2007 s 17(1), (2) 17.7.2008 amended by 8/2016 s 7(1), (2) 1.7.2015 s 20(3) amended by 43/2006 s 220(2) 1.6.2007 amended by 48/2007 s 17(3) 17.7.2008 amended by 8/2016 s 7(3)—(5), (7) 1.7.2015 (b) deleted by 8/2016 s 7(6) 1.7.2015 s 20(5) amended by 79/2009 s 21(1) 19.9.2010 s 20(5a) inserted by 79/2009 s 21(2) 19.9.2010 s 20(6) amended by 79/2009 s 21(3) 19.9.2010 s 23 s 23(1) amended by 43/2006 s 221(1) 1.6.2007 s 23(2) amended by 43/2006 s 221(2) 1.6.2007 s 24 s 24(1) amended by 45/2019 Sch 1 cl 87(1) 1.1.2021 s 24(3) amended by 45/2019 Sch 1 cl 87(2) 1.1.2021 s 25 s 25(1) amended by 8/2016 s 8(1), (2) 1.7.2015 s 25(2) substituted by 8/2016 s 8(3) 1.7.2015 Pt 5 s 27 s 27(3) amended by 8/2016 s 9 1.7.2015 s 28 s 28(5) amended by 8/2016 s 10 1.7.2015 s 28(7) inserted by 31/2013 s 48 3.2.2014 amended by 71/2017 Sch 1 cl 33(1), (2) 30.4.2018 s 28(8) inserted by 31/2013 s 48 3.2.2014 amended by 71/2017 Sch 1 cl 33(3)—(5) 30.4.2018 s 28(9) inserted by 31/2013 s 48 3.2.2014 amended by 71/2017 Sch 1 cl 33(6) 30.4.2018 s 28(10) inserted by 31/2013 s 48 3.2.2014 amended by 71/2017 Sch 1 cl 33(7) 30.4.2018 s 29 s 29(3) inserted by 8/2016 s 11 17.3.2016 Pt 6 s 30 s 30(4) deleted by 47/2007 s 7 17.7.2008 s 31 s 31(a1) inserted by 47/2007 s 8 17.7.2008 s 32 s 32(2) amended by 8/2016 s 12(1) 1.7.2015 s 32(3a) inserted by 8/2016 s 12(2) 1.7.2015 s 32(5) amended by 31/2013 s 49(1) 3.2.2014 s 32(6) substituted by 31/2013 s 49(2) 3.2.2014 s 32(7) amended by 8/2016 s 12(3) 1.7.2015 amended by 53/2017 s 34 30.4.2018 s 32(8) deleted by 79/2009 s 22 19.9.2010 inserted by 71/2017 Sch 1 cl 34 30.4.2018 Pt 7 s 32A inserted by 79/2009 s 23 19.9.2010 s 32A(1) amended by 53/2017 s 35 30.4.2018 s 34A inserted by 8/2016 s 13 1.7.2015 s 37 s 37(1) s 37 redesignated as s 37(1) by 8/2016 s 14 1.7.2015 s 37(2) inserted by 8/2016 s 14 1.7.2015 Sch a1 inserted by 8/2016 s 15 1.7.2015 Sch 1 cl 2 cl 2(4) and (5) inserted by 62/2016 s 15 8.12.2016 cl 3 inserted by 43/2006 s 222 1.6.2007 Sch 2 omitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 Historical versions 1.6.2007 17.7.2008 19.9.2010 3.2.2014 1.7.2015 (electronic only) 17.3.2016 1.7.2016 8.12.2016 30.4.2018 2.9.2019 1.1.2021