Former Labor attorney-general Chris Sumner attacks Vickie Chapman over cuts to Victim Support Service
A veteran Labor politician who helped set up a pioneering victim support service 40 years ago has broken a long public silence to lash out at the State Government for cutting its funding.
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Former long-serving Labor attorney-general Chris Sumner has attacked the State Government’s decision to scrap funding to the Victim Support Service
In a rare public statement, Mr Sumner — who was instrumental in legislating victims’ rights in the 1980s — said the awarding of a contract to provide counselling to crime victims to Relationships SA was “a disgrace”.
“It will result in a substantial reduction in services to victims of crime, a most vulnerable group,” he said.
“The one stop-shop for victims to seek assistance from VSS has been gutted.
“Relationships SA is a worthy organisation but has no specialist track record in crime victim counselling.
“They will not be able to provide other critical services.”
Mr Sumner said there would “no longer be a dedicated victim support service to provide assistance and advocacy to victims”.
“VSS will not be able to support victims of crime and abuse with information, assistance with victim impact statements, court companions or general support and advocacy,” he said. “Provision of training for police and the office of the DPP will have to be stopped.
“Dedicated services in regional areas will be decimated, general services to victims will no longer be available.”
Mr Sumner said the decision by Attorney-General Vickie Chapman to save $1.2 million by using Relationships SA to provide victim counselling was “a slap in the face for the many dedicated victims and volunteers who put their heart and soul into establishing VSS as one of the leading victims’ services in Australia”.
“This shabby decision from the Attorney-General dumps on the hard work done by Liberal and Labor governments over the last 40 years which saw SA become a leader in Australia and recognised internationally for its work,” he said.
“The government collects a levy from all offenders including motorists which should go to assist victims,” he said.
“Instead the monies are kept unused in the fund to help balance the state’s books by both Liberal and Labor governments.
“The monies collected are not used for the purpose they were collected.”
Shadow Child Protection Minister Jayne Stinson said high quality counselling was vital to help victims of violent and sexual crimes recover from their ordeals.
“While phone counselling has its place, readily accessible face-to-face counselling is most effective in assisting victims in their darkest hour,” she said.
“Such a dramatic drop in funding will see fewer victims of crime able to readily access counselling services, which are already in high demand.”
Ms Stinson said the decision would put more pressure on mental health and justice services, including the police and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“We need to be doing more to support victims of violent and sexual crimes – not less,” she said.
Ms Chapman said she had decided to award a $2.3 million, three-year contract for provision of counselling services for crime victims to Relationships SA because it was able to deliver it both face-to-face and online, especially in regional areas.
“It has a long history of working with some of the most traumatised and at-risk members of the community and I am certain they will deliver an outstanding service to victims of crime,” she said.
“Victims of crime deserve the best possible support and this appointment will ensure they have access to high quality and comprehensive counselling services.”
The new contract comes into operation on July 1.