Victim of crimes charter introduced in ACT Legislative Assembly

A victims of crime charter would legislate standards for how victims should be treated and would aim to provide victims with a greater understanding of their rights.

It would address protections for a victim's safety and privacy, access to support services and provide information about general administration of justice processes.

A complaints resolution process would be set up, which would allow a victim to complain to the ACT Human Rights Commission if they believed a justice agency did not comply with their rights.

Justice agencies would be required to take into account an individual needs, particularly if it related to age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexuality or parental obligations.

As well, police would have to refer victims of an office to services that provide support or assistance suitable for the victim's circumstances, where appropriate.

It also sets out rights for respectful engagement with child victims, this includes considering the child's wishes before engaging with a parent or carer.

ACT police, the ACT office of the director of public prosecutions, corrective services, Victim Support ACT and ACT courts and tribunals when acting administratively are some of the agencies that would be governed by the charter.

The charter would come into effect from January 1 2021 and $2.08 million in funding had been allocated.

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Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury told the Assembly the rights the amended bill would fill gaps but would also ensure existing victim policies and entitlements would be upheld as these can be inconsistently applied.

"Victims of crime deserve to be treated appropriately in the justice process and should be provided with information and opportunities to participate that recognise their importance to the justice process," he said.

"Providing victims with an understanding of their rights in the criminal justice process can help prevent victims from being retraumatised in their experience with the criminal justice system."

The government said the charter was developed with input from justice agencies, victim advocates and the broader community.

ACT victims of crime commissioner Heidi Yates said the charter was a welcome addition to the territory's human rights framework.

"The voice of victims is an essential part of the criminal justice system. Despite this, victims often feel unheard in justice processes," she said.

"The charter promises to secure practical improvements to the lives of victims by protecting their rights to recognition, information, privacy and respect with a clear way to raise complaints."

Laws that would make it easier for a paedophiles' past sexual abuse to be revealed to juries were also introduced in the Assembly on Thursday.