SA: Small Fraction of Victims of Crime Levy Funds Paid Out
Wednesday 13 November 2013 @ 11.13 a.m. | Crime | Legal Research
The Law Society of South Australia has described the Victim of Crimes levy by the SA Government as unjustified in comparison to claims. According to the Law Society’s President Morry Bailes , a mere $25 million of the $100 million collected last year was actually being paid out to victims of crime, for whom the levy was created:
"What we want is the levies collected for victims of crime actually being paid to victims of crime….What offends us is the levies have doubled, but the amount paid to victims hasn't increased over 23 years. The maximum payout is $50,000 for the worst imaginable injury."
According to Mr Bales, the maximum pay out for a victim of crime from the levy has been fixed since 1990.
Examples from a phone-in radio program include a $60 levy being added to $85 fines for parking in front of mail boxes as well as $60 latched on to a $130 fine for a displaced P plate. A $175 fine for failing to carry a licence when driving would also incur the additional levy.
Minister for Police and Road Safety Michael O'Brien said the intent behind issuing the levy uniformly was for administrative simplicity and to avoid appeals:
"By imposing the levy uniformly we do not have instances of individuals claiming 'this was a criminal act and that wasn't'."
Mr O'Brien did make a statement on whether the levy administration would be investigated:
"Any adjustments had to be done with the recognition that we didn't want to send the scheme into the red."
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