Qld government’s Victims Advocate Service forum starts in Cairns to design operations
The state government brought its butchers paper to Cairns as it prepares to design a “one-stop shop” for victims of crime, declaring the current system as a minefield.
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The state government brought its butchers paper to Cairns as it prepares to design a “one-stop shop” for victims of crime, declaring the current system as a minefield.
But specific details on the LNP’s five-year, $50m Victims Advocate Service won’t become available until September, when the government finishes round-table consultations across the state in a bid for a 2026 launch.
Premier David Crisafulli and Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber met with more than 20 victims, support services and stakeholders on Thursday for the first regional victims support service forum.
Mr Crisafulli said he wasn’t convinced the current support offered to victims was as “clean and efficient” as it could be, describing it as at times “clumsy”.
“It’s about making sure that when people do suffer as a result of being a victim of crime they’re not passed around, that they have a point of contact,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“My commitment is fewer victims of crime and everything we do is about driving down victim numbers.”
Ms Gerber said the new service would become a centralised point of contact for residents, businesses and organisation aggrieved by the impacts of offenders, but its scope would be designed by attendees at the consultation forums.
“At the moment, victims of crime will be given a piece of paper with about 15 services listed on them and they’ve got to navigate that themselves,” she said.
“Our one-stop shop professional Victims Advocates Service will ensure that victims are supported right from the start, right to the end.”
Ms Gerber said this could include centralising compensation services being provided through Victim Assist Queensland.
“Victims of crime can go to Victim Assist Queensland for financial assistance, but then they have to go to a different service to be able to get psychological support,” she said.
“And then they have to go to another service if they want to deal with insurance. Our service will make sure that they don’t have to go through all those processes.”
The Youth Justice Minister said she accepted establishing a single Victims Advocate Service based in Brisbane wouldn’t meet the needs of the regions.
Cairns Division 1 councillor Brett Moller said policy ideas brought up during the forum included a pilot program basing victim support officers at police stations, as well as possible amendments to sentencing options which could allow magistrates to order youth offenders to volunteer at community organisations.
He said in the 2024-25 financial year, the council estimated $628,000 in damage to ratepayer assets from vandalism.
“We also heard from Mulgrave Cricket which has reported in the last 18 months from 40 incidents – over $100,000 of damage there (at the Walker Rd Sporting Precinct).
“An option for courts to order these youth offenders to go back to these community clubs and organisations and do community service to repair or clean up not only would give them a chance to understand the consequences of their actions but also get involved with the club.”
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Originally published as Qld government’s Victims Advocate Service forum starts in Cairns to design operations
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