Ms JULIA FINN (Granville) (12:41): My question is addressed to the Minister for Corrections. Will the Minister update the House on the New South Wales Government's work to create a better system for victim‑survivors of serious crimes by reforming the State's victims registers?
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (12:42): I thank the member for Granville for the question. Today, I am proud to advise the House that the Minns Labor Government will introduce legislation to significantly reform the State's victims registers. The Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Register) Bill 2025 will ensure that victim‑survivors of serious crimes receive mandatory notification about their right to sign up as a registered victim and receive critical information about an offender. The three New South Wales victims registers are the Corrective Services NSW Victims Register, the Youth Justice Victims Register and the Specialist Victims Register for victims of forensic patients.
Those who opt in to the registers will receive timely, accurate and trauma-informed updates regarding the relevant perpetrator's progress through our custodial system. That may include details about an offender's location, their sentence, their parole eligibility and any changes that may affect a victim's safety and wellbeing. Registered victims will also have the right to make a submission about an offender's parole, where relevant. These reforms will mark another step in the Government's commitment to improving our justice system and supporting victims of crime as we work to create a safer New South Wales. I am proud to remind the House that the first victims register operated by Corrective Services NSW was established by the Carr Labor Government in 1996. The register was designed to provide a supportive service to victims in what is often the most distressing period they may face in their lives.
The Minns Labor Government is continuing that legacy by ensuring that victims registers remain responsive to victims' needs. Corrective Services NSW consulted with victim‑survivors, victim advocates and victim support services over several months to ensure that these changes reflect the views of the people the registers serve. Eligible victims of serious offenders will now receive mandatory notification letting them know about the relevant register and their eligibility to opt in for updates. If they do not want to make a decision at that time, victim‑survivors will have the option to be contacted at a later date to discuss the benefits of registration and then decide whether they would like to be registered.
In terms of who will be notified, victims of serious offenders will be defined according to existing legislation. Generally, the serious offenders that will cause a mandatory notification about the victims register to be sent to a victim‑survivor or a family member will be offenders who have committed murder, an offender serving a sentence of life imprisonment or an offender serving one or more sentences totalling a minimum of 12 years in custody for offences such as attempted murder, serious sexual assault, abduction or aggravated robbery. [Extension of time]
Family members of a victim will also be notified if the victim is deceased, incapacitated or under the age of 18. Ensuring that victims will have the choice to register will strike the appropriate balance between ensuring that victims are aware of their right to be on the register while—importantly—maintaining the victim's choice and avoiding re‑traumatisation. This morning I was very pleased to hold a press conference with Mr Howard Brown and the Premier. Mr Howard Brown is a longstanding and respected victims advocate who is very supportive of the Government's reforms through the victims register. He said:
The Victims Registers are able to provide the kind of information that victim‑survivors may feel that they need to be able to take back control of their lives, sometimes many years after a serious crime has been committed against them.
Maximising free and full access to such a vital resource like the Victims Registers is a major step toward healing for victim‑survivors.
I thank Howard for that strong endorsement of the Government's reforms. I also acknowledge the contributions and support of Ms Martha Jabour from the Homicide Victims Support Group and Ms Samantha Barlow, who has been a strong advocate. They were part of the Government's consultation process. No-one chooses to become the victim of a violent crime. That is why the Minns Labor Government is doing everything within its power to support and empower victim‑survivors in the aftermath of a crime. Eligible victim‑survivors of serious offenders have the choice to be on the victims register and be given the knowledge and agency to engage with the justice system, ensuring no-one is left behind.
