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This was published 7 years ago
Rape, assault payments drive $1.7 million spend on ACT victims of violent crime
By Megan Gorrey and Alexandra Back
The number of domestic violence victims who received compensation from the ACT government dropped significantly last year, despite a rise in victims seeking help and a doubling of criminal charges linked to family abuse.
More than $1.7 million in public financial assistance was split between 92 victims of crime from Canberra in 2015-16, figures from the Justice and Community Safety Directorate's annual report showed.
ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner John Hinchey expects more domestic violence victims will make use of the ACT's "more equitable" victims of crime financial assistance scheme. Credit: Graham Tidy
But the report showed just three domestic violence victims received payments, totalling about $16,381 and an average of $5460 per victim.
It meant compensation given to victims of domestic violence made up less than one per cent of total funds paid out, even as boosted awareness of family abuse continued to push an increase in reports of such crimes.
ACT Policing laid more than 1000 charges for crime related to domestic violence in the 12 months to last October, more than 500 charges more than the same period the previous year.
The number of 2015-16 compensation payments were down 80 per cent from the previous year, when 15 victims of domestic violence received a combined total of about $49,000, with an average of about $3200 each.
Nine domestic violence victims received a payment in 2013-14, sharing a total of about $17,200 and an average of about $1900 each.
The compensation scheme was last year overhauled in response to concerns some victims, including witnesses to violent crimes, those experiencing domestic abuse and people who suffered serious but not necessarily permanent injuries, were missing out.
Under the changes, which came into place in July, the government slashed the maximum amount of compensation for victims of violent crime but said more people would have access to funds.
Victims of Crime Commissioner John Hinchey said the low take-up rate among victims of domestic violence crimes last year highlighted the need for the previous scheme to be significantly revamped.
"Given the prevalence of domestic and family violence in the community it's an indication the old scheme was not easily or frequently accessed by victims," he said.
Mr Hinchey said the new, "more equitable" approach adopted a broader recognition of injuries caused by domestic abuse which went beyond serious physical assault and included unplanned pregnancy and a reduced capacity for sexual activity.
Of the 45 financial assistance applications received in the first six months, Mr Hinchey said seven were linked to domestic or family violence - already more than the total number of applications the previous year.
The annual report showed the vast majority of funds paid out (85 per cent) was shared between 33 victims of sexual assault, who each received an average payment of more than $44,000.
Some of those victims, who accounted for 35 per cent of people awarded funds, were given the maximum payment of $50,000.
That was a slight jump from the previous financial year, when rape victims were awarded 70 per cent of the record $2 million paid out by the ACT government, despite making up only 28 per cent of successful applicants.
The most common payout last year was to Canberrans who had been assaulted, with 45 victims paid an average of $3800.
Their payments totalled $171,000 and they made up nearly 10 per cent of victims.
Overall demand for compensation from victims of crime has hovered around 100 per year in recent times, with 111 victims applying last year.
The report also gave a snapshot of the circumstances in which compensation was paid.
A brother, 8, and sister, 9, each received the maximum payout of $50,000 after they were sexually abused by their 17-year-old uncle, who was charged with acts of indecency.
A girl between 7 and 11 who was sexually assaulted by members of her parents' social group, and suffered serious and continuing psychological injury also received the maximum amount.
A police officer who injured his shoulder during an arrest was paid $7000. A woman who was in the toilet at the airport when a heavily intoxicated man climbed over the cubicle was paid $572. She managed to escape, and he was later arrested.