Domestic violence offenders should pay for their rehab, not taxpayers, says Attorney-General Vickie Chapman
ABUSERS who can afford to pay for rehabilitation to change their violent behaviour should be made to cover the cost, rather than the taxpayer, Attorney-General Vickie Chapman says.
- Domestic violence: Breaking the cycle
- Thousands seek protection from violent abusers in court
- Plea for election funding to protect women, kids in violence crisis
- Lauren Novak: Disclosure laws cannot come soon enough
ABUSERS who can afford to pay for violent behaviour rehab programs should be made to cover the cost, rather than the taxpayer, Attorney-General Vickie Chapman says.
Ms Chapman’s suggestion comes as she confirmed the State Budget would include $11.9 million for domestic violence-related initiatives promised ahead of the March election.
This includes $9 million for extra crisis accommodation across the state, $1.66 million to ensure the domestic violence hotline is staffed 24/7 and $510,000 for a new scheme to warn people if their partner has a violent history.
Ahead of the 2014 state election, the former Labor Government promised a policy that would force violent abusers to pay up to $1300 if they failed to complete court-ordered rehabilitation courses.
MPs approved an update to the law in 2015 to mandate the change.
But The Advertiser revealed in January that an administrative bungle meant the government had no idea if anyone had been made to pay because no one in the court system was tracking the policy.
Neither ministers, departmental or court officials could say if anyone had been made to pay, or how much.
Significant revenue can be achieved through such a policy as data shows fewer than half the abusers enrolled in rehabilitation courses complete their program.
Ms Chapman said many offenders, and particularly those in jail, would likely be unable to pay but “those who can afford to pay ought to pay”.
“We’ve got to look at this on an individual case basis,” she said.
“It should at least be recovered from those who can afford it. I’d like to ensure that that’s followed up.”
Ms Chapman said she was “more than happy to have a look at it to see if it’s actually being followed through”.
The Budget will be delivered on September 4.
For support phone 1800 RESPECT