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Although
many of our “older” families experienced
feelings of powerlessness in the past, they stood
up and demanded many of the rights outlined below,
changing legislation and public perception as they
fought back. This fight for Reform was one of the
founding objectives of the Homicide Victims’ Support
Group (Aust) Inc.
The HVSG (Aust) Inc. has been instrumental in changing
numerous pieces of legislation in the past 12 years
and are continuing to do so. When our families come
up against problems or inequities, we work with them
to change or improve things for the next victim.
An example of this happened in 2004 – as one
of our young members stood up in court to deliver
her Victim Impact Statement concerning her adored
grandfathers murder, the Defence counsel objected
and pointed out that grandchildren were not eligible
as they were not seen as “immediate family”.
Why? Some children are raised by their grandparents
and, in many cultures, grandparents are very much
an integral part of the immediate family. Needless
to say, we have raised this matter and will be seeking
legislative change.
Currently, we are working on changes to the Mental
Health Act and the laws governing “Double Jeopardy”.
Some of the major pieces of legislation passed or
changed, due to the lobbying of the HVSG (Aust) Inc.
include:
- Abolishment of Dock Statements for all accused
- 1994
- Mandatory Life Sentences Act - 1995
- Prevention of Convicted Prisoners Receiving
Compensation - 1995
- Court Delays for Homicide and
Serious Crimes - 1995-2000
- Victim Impact Statements - 1996
- Victims Compensation Act - 1996
- Diminished Responsibility - 1996
- Victims Registry - 1996-2000
- Charter of Victims Rights & Victims Rights
Act - 1996
- Children’s Criminal Procedures Act (allowing
victims into court) - 1998
- Seizing prisoners assets to pay for Victims
Compensation - 1998
- Increasing Police Powers (stop and search) -
1999-2000
- Home Invasion
Laws - 1999
- Knife
Laws - 1999
- Jury Preparation
- 2000
- Redetermination of Sentence Laws - 2001-2002
- Disclosure
of the Defence Case - 2001
- DNA Legislation - 2001
- Oral Victim Impact Statements – 2003
- Standard
Non Parole Periods - 2004
Many of those families who have gone before you
have worked with heart and soul to improve the rights
of victims - trying to make our Justice system more “Victim
orientated” and less “Offender orientated”.
With your help, this work will continue - to improve
conditions for those who will, sadly, inevitably
follow you.
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