Review of NSW’s Victims Compensation Scheme

In August 2011, the NSW Attorney General announced an independent assessment of the Victims Compensation Scheme with a view to delivering faster and more effective financial support to victims of violent crime.  As at June 2011, the time between lodgement and determination of a victims compensation claim was about 25 months.  Statistics from the Chairpersons Report 2010-2011 indicated that the structure of the Scheme was not financially sustainable in the longer term, as while benefit utilisation continues to grow, funding is constrained. The Government appointed Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) to conduct an independent assessment of the Scheme.  The Homeless Persons Legal Service submission notes that any cutbacks in the Scheme will affect homeless people who statistically are at much higher risk of being victims of violent crime.  The Homeless Persons Legal Service has recommended that sufficient flexibility in the Scheme be maintained to ensure that homeless people are able to reasonably access assistance under the Scheme.