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Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025

Published on: May 2025

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-152914

Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025

Second Reading Debate

Debate resumed from 6 May 2025.

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (16:12:40):

On behalf of the Opposition, I make a contribution to debate on the Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025. At the outset, I state the Opposition will support the bill. This bill deals with something we in this place should never lose sight of—supporting victims of crime and ensuring that they are informed and respected throughout the criminal justice process. The bill seeks to improve the way our system notifies eligible victims of their right to register with one of the three existing victims registers in New South Wales. The Opposition supports this small but very important change. The three registers—the Corrective Services NSW Victims Register, the Youth Justice Victims Register, and the Specialist Victims—play a crucial role in keeping victims informed about the offender who harmed them. The information provided might include parole eligibility, sentence progression, or other significant updates. For many victims, particularly of serious and violent crimes, this information can be vital for planning, safety and, of course, peace of mind. It can also provide an opportunity to make a submission when decisions are being made about things like parole or supervised leave.

Currently, all three registers operate using an opt-in model, which means that victims must take active steps to register. While this approach was originally adopted out of respect for victims so that no-one is included without consent, it does present a key challenge. Simply put, many victims are unaware that the register exists, let alone that they are eligible to be included. The bill responds to that issue by introducing a new obligation for the agencies that administer these registers. Where a victim is eligible and where the offender is classified as a serious offender under the relevant legislation, the agency will be required to take reasonable steps to notify the victim and their family of their right to register. This obligation must be carried out as soon as practicable once the agency becomes aware that the person is eligible.

Importantly, the model put forward still respects victims' autonomy by not moving to an automatic opt-out system. In fact, feedback from stakeholders, including many victims and support organisations, was extremely clear. While many would welcome more information, they do not want to be registered without their knowledge or consent. For some, being contacted unexpectedly can be a re-traumatising experience. For others, engaging with the register at all may be too painful. These voices must be heard, and I am pleased that the bill has sought to strike the right balance between proactive engagement and personal choice.

The Opposition also notes the sensible limitations and safeguards included in the bill. For example, agencies are not required to notify a victim if they are unable to obtain accurate contact information, despite making all reasonable efforts. Similarly, no notification is required if the victim has already expressed that they do not wish to be contacted about the relevant offender or do not wish to be included on the register. The bill also includes specific provisions relating to family members. Where the primary victim is deceased, under the age of 18 or under incapacity, a family member may be notified in their place. This is a compassionate and appropriate recognition of the need to continue supporting those who are closest to the victim.

The reforms proposed in the bill were developed through a process of consultation with victims, stakeholders and, of course, advocacy groups. I acknowledge the brave contributions of individuals like Samantha Barlow, whose case brought national attention to the shortfalls of the current system. Her experience of only learning of the register when the offender in her case was about to be considered for parole demonstrates exactly why these changes are needed. Victims should not have to find these services by accident or at the last minute. It is important that we take all the necessary steps to ensure we deliver a system that engages proactively with victims and gives them the choice to be informed and involved in a way that is sensitive and, of course, respectful.

The bill also includes amendments to the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013 to allow for limited, purpose-specific sharing of victim contact information between prosecuting agencies like the New South Wales police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the agencies that manage the victims registers. This is a necessary step to enable the notifications to occur without breaching privacy legislation. Importantly, the disclosure must be reasonably necessary and safeguards must remain in place to protect sensitive information, including health information in cases involving forensic patients.

The Opposition acknowledges that these reforms do not change the eligibility requirements for the registers, nor do they alter the types of updates a victim receives once registered. They improve the gateway, ensuring that victims of serious offenders are given the opportunity to make that choice at the right time and, of course, with the right information. The work of supporting victims of crime is never complete. We must keep moving forward and listen to those with lived experience, respond to their calls for change and, of course, improve the way systems work. This is a living formula that must continue. I congratulate the Minister and his team, including Constance Piperides, who has kept me fully informed. I also acknowledge Jack Robinson from my office for his support putting together this response on behalf of the Opposition. The Opposition will support the bill, and I thank the individuals and organisations that have contributed to its development. I commend the bill to the House.

Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect) (16:19:06):

I speak in support of the Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025. In 2009 former New South Wales police sergeant Samantha Barlow was on her way to work when she was brutally attacked. The attacker fractured her skull, broke her nose, injured her neck with a brick and then left her for dead. The perpetrator was eventually arrested and charged for that horrific crime, and in 2010, after pleading guilty, he was sentenced to 21 years in jail. In 2024 Samantha's assailant was deemed fit for release on parole, and Samantha was not notified. She was not aware of a victims register and only came to know about her assailant's parole from a friend who became aware that he would be released. Despite Samantha being a police officer, she was not formally notified about her assailant's parole hearing until four days before the hearing. As a victim‑survivor of a serious crime, Samantha was eligible to be included on the victims registers. Like Samantha Barlow, many victims are not aware that they can be informed of such matters.

I thank the Minister for Corrections for his extensive collaboration to develop the Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025. I also acknowledge the fierce advocacy of victim-survivor groups and families of victim-survivors and victims of crime. Throughout recent months, as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General, I have been privileged to meet with the families of victims of crime to hear their stories. I have been moved by heartbreaking stories of loss and perseverance. Their courageous advocacy has led to meaningful changes for their loved ones and for future victims.

In particular, I acknowledge Samantha and Lawrence Barlow, and my friend Martha Jabour from the Homicide Victims Support Group, for their conviction. I also thank the Homicide Victims Support Group, Survivors and Mates Support Network, Victims of Terrorism Australia, Women's Legal Service NSW, Domestic Violence NSW, Full Stop Australia, Victims of Crime Assistance League, Knowmore, Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia, Enough is Enough, People with Disability Australia, Intellectual Disability Rights Service and ACON for their submissions on this important piece of legislation. The submissions helped shape the legislation into effective, fit-for-purpose reform. The bill will amend the Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987, the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999, the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020, and the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013. I refer to those Acts as the CDC Act, CAS Act, the forensic provisions Act, and the VRS Act, respectively.

The bill sets a requirement for relevant agencies responsible for administering victims registers to notify victims of the existence of the registers and their eligibility to be registered for updates. The bills will also have a practical effect in amending the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013 to allow particular personal and health information to be shared between government agencies, to help keep victims informed of updates regarding the offender. In New South Wales, there are three victims registers: the Corrective Services NSW Victims Register, the Youth Justice Victims Register and the Specialist Victims Register for victims of forensic patients. Those registers are established mechanisms in New South Wales for notifying victims of specific information relating to an offender, such as details of their sentence, release dates or any changes in their legal status.

Victims registers recognise the need to provide a support service to victims of crime in some of the darkest and most distressing moments of their lives. By having access to and understanding of the custodial framework under which a related offender is being supervised, victims registers enable victims to make informed choices and plan for their safety, and provide support for complex feelings of anxiety. The first victims register in New South Wales was established by the Carr Labor Government in 1996. Since then, Labor has made efforts to increase awareness and improve the efficiency of those instruments. Many in our community are not aware of their application in New South Wales.

The bill seeks to keep victims informed of updates regarding their offender and the offence, ensure victims are aware of the register's existence, and assist victims with referral to support services. In effect, the bill will enable eligible victim‑survivors to opt in to the register. Eligible victims will receive a mandatory notification letter advising of the relevant register and their eligibility to opt in. Victim‑survivors who choose to opt in will receive timely, accurate and trauma‑informed updates about their perpetrator's progression through the custodial system. That could include information about the offender's location, their sentence, eligibility for parole and any developments that may impact the victim's safety or wellbeing. It will also give an opportunity for eligible victim‑survivors to make a submission about the offender's parole application.

I now turn to the specific provisions of the bill. Proposed section 100AA of the Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987 seeks to impose an obligation on agencies responsible for maintaining the victims register to inform victims about the register and the victim's eligibility to be recorded in it. Where a direct victim is under 18 years of age, incapacitated or deceased, the agency will be required to notify a family member of the victim. Eligibility for registration on the CDC register applies to victims when an offender is a "serious young offender". Serious young offenders are defined in section 37N of the CDC Act as having been convicted of a serious children's indictable offence.

Similarly, the bill proposes to insert section 282A into the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 to impose an obligation on the agency to notify victims of the register and their eligibility to be recorded in that register. Eligibility for inclusion on that register applies to victims of all "serious offenders" as per its definition in section 3 (a), 3 (b), 3 (c) and 3 (e) of that Act. The bill proposes to insert section 156A into the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 to impose an obligation on the Commissioner of Victims Rights to notify all eligible victims of forensic patients of the existence of that register and victims' eligibility to be included on that register. Victims eligible for inclusion on the Specialist Victims Register include victims of forensic patients who have received a special verdict of "act proven but not criminally responsible" and victims of forensic patients who have received a limited term following a special hearing.

Extension of time

The bill also amends section 7 of the Victims Rights and Support Act to provide an exemption to the current prohibition against disclosing a victim's personal details. The amendment would allow sharing a victim's residential address and phone number to the appropriate agencies responsible for administering matters relating to victims and victims support. I note that sharing of this information is between only the responsible agencies and only where reasonably necessary to inform the victim about services, support or assistance. It is also worth noting that the bill will not affect any changes to the existing framework for how the victims register operates. []

Following extensive stakeholder consultation, the Government determined that victims registers will be based on an opt-in model. This model strikes the appropriate balance between ensuring that victim-survivors are aware of their right to be on the register while upholding their right to have a choice. With the opt-in model, we have listened to the voices of victim-survivors and are responding to their call to improve the system while balancing the critical need to avoid re‑traumatising those victim‑survivors who do not wish to be re-exposed to the heinous crimes of their offenders. Our judicial system has evolved. It has become victim-centric and developed greater recognition of the enduring trauma that sits with victims of crime, their families and their loved ones. The measures introduced by the bill aim to meet victim-survivors where they are.

The bill aims to support those victims, who constantly look over their shoulder, who triple-check that their doors and windows are locked before going to bed and who have had to quit their jobs. It aims to return a sense of control to those brave individuals by giving them knowledge and agency in safety planning and decision‑making. It aims to provide the reassurance that comes with information. The reform ensures that every eligible victim‑survivor and their family is given the opportunity to make their voice heard during deliberations about an offender's release. The reform ensures that no-one is left behind or forgotten. As noted by victims advocate Howard Brown, OAM:

The victims registers are able to provide the kind of information that victim-survivors may feel they need to be able to take back control of their lives.

In my discussions with victim advocacy groups, I was shattered to hear from parents who had lost their beloved daughter to a horrific act. The offender who cut their daughter's life far too short was placed in a corrective mental health facility under 24-hour supervision. The family was registered under the relevant victims register. Because of that, they were informed when their daughter's killer escaped the corrective centre and went AWOL. Experiencing unimaginable terror, the family gathered and sought protection from the NSW Police Force. Overnight, they walked on eggshells, flinching at each and every sound. In the morning, they were relieved after receiving an update that the offender was returned to custody. Whilst awareness of the event created true terror for the family, it also gave them the knowledge and agency to bring the family together and seek safety.

As a government, we recognise the severe and far-reaching impacts for people directly or indirectly exposed to crime. The battle can be long lasting and trauma heavy and can cause constant unease about safety and security. We understand the plight they are navigating. We are here to listen to and work with them to implement solutions. Through the reforms, the Government is taking important steps to bolster support for victim‑survivors of serious crimes. As such, I commend the bill to the House.

Mr PHILIP DONATO (Orange) (16:32:28):

From the outset, I indicate that I support the Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025. Anything that assists in strengthening support measures for victims of crime, especially victims of the most serious crimes, like homicide, should be supported by the Parliament. The bill essentially seeks to place a mandatory obligation under three Acts—the Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987, the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 and the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020—for the way that victims of serious crime are dealt with and for their entitlement to be included on the victims register.

The bill does that by amending the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013 to ensure that victims' contact details are shared between government agencies to notify victims about available support services and assistance, amongst other things. That is important, and I commend the Minister for Corrections for bringing the bill to the House and addressing those issues. It would be remiss of me to not raise some of the concerns that I frequently hear about problems that families of victims of homicide experience. I bring those concerns to the attention of the House, the Minister and the New South Wales Government. Those problems are not directly connected to the bill but are important, related issues that centre around dealings that many victims have had with the Mental Health Review Tribunal [MHRT].

Since I tabled the ePetition about Biddy Porter, the beautiful young girl who lived in my electorate of Orange and who was brutally murdered by a young girl known to the family, my office and I have been contacted by many victims and victim support groups of homicide from around the State. Each of them shared with me their personal experiences and often the problems they have encountered when dealing with the MHRT. Common complaints include simple things such as connectivity or being able to see, hear and participate in MHRT hearings. The Government needs to do more in that space to improve the technology.

Only last week I experienced that firsthand, when I attempted to dial into and observe an MHRT hearing involving the murderer of young Biddy. My office did all of the right things. We sought advance written permission from the president of the Mental Health Review Tribunal to dial in and observe the tribunal proceedings. We were provided a link to remotely dial in. The link did not work, and after several attempts to connect, I dialled into the hearing via telephone, joining five minutes after it had commenced. I could hear but not see the proceedings. I did not know who I was hearing from, what their position was and who they were representing. The tribunal then deliberated and handed down its decision.

In relation to MHRT matters, the victims or their family members need to go through that experience every six months where they must relive the matter, and the ongoing trauma that that invokes in victims has been raised with me many times. I have also received information that victims are not getting their submissions or questions addressed by the MHRT during those hearings. That needs to change for the ongoing welfare of victims. Six months is too short a period and it should be extended to at least 12 months. Victims also need to provide several weeks written advance notice before the hearings of any questions or submissions they wish to make or raise during a hearing. Written transcripts of MHRT proceedings should be made available to victims. The other aspect is around the definition of victim under the Specialist Victims Register. It is too narrow and limited and needs to be extended to better reflect modern relationships. For example, it does not include grandchildren, aunts, uncles or in-laws. I note that the Specialist Victims Register registration form indicates the eligibility on page 2. It states:

family member

A victim of an act of violence (primary victim), or a victim is who is a of a primary victim who died as a result of the act of violence (family victim).

Family member

includes:

The victim's spouse

The victim's de-facto spouse, or same sex partner who has lived with the victim for at least two years

A parent, step-parent or guardian of the victim

A child or step-child of the victim, or other child of whom the victim was the guardian

A brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother or step-sister of the victim

That is a limited list of family members that are able to register as a victim using the current Specialist Victims Register registration form offered by the Specialist Victim Support Service. I heard one particular complaint from an aunt of a woman who was murdered. She essentially helped raise her niece, and it took a lot of significant work to get her recognised as a victim. Initially she was not recognised as a victim because she did not fit that strict interpretation of victims under the register. The definition needs to be reconsidered and should reflect modern day relationships. There needs to be greater flexibility in that regard.

If the Government is genuinely committed to supporting a victim-centric approach, which the Minister, whom I respect, stated in his contribution, much more needs to be done, especially regarding issues with how victims are dealt with in Mental Health Review Tribunal proceedings. I have spoken with the Minister and his staff, and I very much appreciate the opportunity to be briefed by the Minister. A victim is in that position through no fault of their own. No-one wants to be a victim of serious crime. It could impact any of us at any time. I firmly believe victims must be afforded the protection, support and mechanisms to assist them as long as they need it. They need to be treated with genuine respect, dignity and compassion. It is critical that certain government agencies need to prioritise victims' interests and concerns over those of offenders. Based on what I have heard, that sometimes does not happen. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr JIHAD DIB (BankstownMinister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice) (16:39:23):

— I commend Minister Chanthivong for leading on the Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025 and for the work he and his agency did putting together this important bill. The Minns Labor Government is leading the reform of the State's victims registers by introducing legislation to the New South Wales Parliament. The key reform in the bill will enhance the registers by ensuring victim-survivors of serious crimes receive mandatory notification about their right to sign up and receive information about an offender. As the Minister for Youth Justice, I acknowledge the severe impacts on people directly or indirectly exposed to crime. To bolster support for victims of serious crime, the Minns Labor Government has introduced these important reforms for the three victims registers.

The bill legislates a positive obligation on the agencies administering the registers to notify victims of serious offenders about their relevant register and their eligibility to sign up. Youth Justice NSW administers one of the three registers in New South Wales as directed under the Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987 and has been working alongside colleagues in Corrective Services and other stakeholders who have led the review. The review has also relied on consultation with victim-survivors' advocates and support services to ensure the changes reflect the views of the people the registers are designed to support. The reforms aim to balance a victim's desire for more information and need for awareness of the registers with concerns about privacy and consent. The legislative obligation is framed in a way that accounts for situations where victims are unable to be identified or where victims are unable to be contacted—for example, due to inaccurate contact details. That will ensure that those situations do not result in agencies breaching the obligation.

It is proposed that eligible victims of serious offenders will receive mandatory notifications as soon as practicable, letting them know about the relevant register and their eligibility to opt in. 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 decide whether they would like to be registered. If they have already declined to be part of the register, that will prevent them from being contacted through the new scheme. In the context of the Youth Justice Victims Register, victim-survivors of serious young offenders will be eligible to register. Ensuring victim‑survivors continue to have the choice to register strikes the appropriate balance between ensuring that a victim is aware of their right to register while, importantly, maintaining choice and avoiding re-traumatisation. Work will also be done to make the sign-up process simpler, with fewer technological or communication barriers for those who need that. Youth Justice will continue to ensure all information about victim-survivors is stored securely and will continue to provide personalised, trauma-informed contact points for victims on the register and eligible notifiable family members acting as representatives of victims.

There is a strong case to be made about the commonsense approach of the register and its importance, obviously, to survivors of crime. It becomes important in ensuring that those who wish to be on the register will be notified because, of course, it does have some impact; it can reintroduce trauma. This comes about by ensuring we do not have a situation where a victim-survivor is not aware that the person convicted of a crime against them is released. In the operation of the register, we see a close working relationship between different agencies within the Department of Communities and Justice. Whilst a large part will be played by Corrective Services, Youth Justice will also have its own element. The commitment is to continue working as best we can across agencies to ensure that, if they have chosen to be on the register, victim‑survivors receive notification and, if they have chosen not to be on the register, that choice is protected and respected.

Again, I commend all members who contributed to debate on this important bill. The changes that it will make will have a significant impact on people who have been through trauma. I also commend Minister Chanthivong and his team, who are sitting in the advisors' area, and thank everybody who works on good legislation that betters the State of New South Wales. I commend the bill to the House.

Ms KAREN McKEOWN (Penrith) (16:44:29):

I am proud to speak in support of the Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025. I thank the Minister and his staff for crafting this very commonsense bill and bringing it to the House. Victims registers play a crucial role in supporting victims of crime by providing access to specific information about the offender, including release dates and changes in their legal status, and allowing some victims to make submissions for consideration during key events, such as an inmate's release on parole.

I am proud to acknowledge that the first victims register in New South Wales, operated by Corrective Services NSW [CSNSW], was established by the Carr Labor Government in 1996. The CSNSW Victims Register is for victims of adult offenders and is constituted under the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999. Victims who are eligible to be registered include victims of offenders serving sentences of imprisonment by full‑time detention, victims of offenders serving intensive correction orders for personal violence offences, victims of high-risk offenders and victims of terrorism offenders.

Interested persons may also apply to be registered on the CSNSW Victims Register. The legislation provides a non‑exhaustive list of persons that may be considered interested persons, including anyone the commissioner is satisfied is reasonably expected to have his or her life or safety endangered because of his or her connection with an offender. This may include persons who have a connection to an offender due to prior harm or violence, a domestic relationship or being a witness to or a victim of a previous serious offence or offence of a sexual nature committed by the offender. Family representatives of a victim must be recorded instead of the victim if the victim is deceased, under incapacity or less than 18 years old. The Corrective Services commissioner may direct that a 16- or 17-year-old be placed on a victims register instead of their family representative after considering the victim's circumstances. Victims and interested persons may also nominate representatives to act on their behalf and receive information from the register.

A victim includes a person who, as a direct result of an act committed or apparently committed by an offender or high‑risk offender in the course of an offence, suffers actual bodily harm, mental illness or nervous shock, or has property deliberately taken, destroyed or damaged. Once a victim is registered on the register, they receive notices about the offender, including information about the offender's sentence, release dates or changes in legal status. For example, a registered victim may receive notices about a proposal for the Serious Offenders Review Council to recommend a low‑security classification for that offender or about the intention of the State Parole Authority to grant parole to an offender if that offender is due for consideration as to whether they should be released to reintegration home detention or on parole, or is eligible for or has applied for release on parole.

Quorum called for.The bells having been rung and a quorum having formed, business resumed

Registered victims and interested persons will receive notices if certain orders are made in respect of the offender, such as a reintegration home detention order releasing the offender or a parole order releasing the offender on parole. Information will be provided about the date of the release and any additional conditions placed on the reintegration— [] [.]

Registered victims and interested persons will receive notices if certain orders are made for the offender, such as a reintegration home detention order releasing the offender or a parole order releasing the offender on parole. Information will be provided about the date of the release and any additional conditions placed on the reintegration home detention or parole order. Notice will also be provided if the conditions of the reintegration home detention or parole order are changed, or if the order is revoked.

Extension of time

The Corrective Services Commissioner may also provide other information to registered victims and interested persons as is relevant, including any change to the offender's earliest possible release date; if the offender dies while serving a sentence or released on parole; the name of the correctional centre in which the offender is serving a sentence; if the offender escapes while serving a sentence; the offender's security classification, and any changes; a decision by the commissioner to issue a local leave permit for the offender; the exercise by the Governor of the prerogative of mercy in relation to the offender; if the offender is transferred into the custody of another State, Territory or the Commonwealth; for victims of high-risk offenders, if the offender is subject to an extended supervision order or continuing detention order under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 or the Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act 2017; and if the offender is taken into custody while on an intensive correction order where the intensive correction order is in relation to a personal violence offence. That information helps victims and interested persons to understand the custodial framework under which the offender is supervised. []

That knowledge is vital as it gives the victims knowledge about the processes and timelines involved in an offender's sentence. By having that information, victims can better navigate the justice system and feel more in control of their particular situation. By being informed about an offender's status, victims can take necessary steps to plan for their safety and wellbeing. That proactive approach is essential in helping victims feel secure and supported. Knowing when an offender is due for release or if there are changes in their legal status allows victims to make informed decisions about their own safety measures.

The notices also advise victims of their ability to make submissions for consideration during key events. For example, registered victims are notified that they can make submissions for consideration by the Serious Offenders Review Council if a low security classification for a serious offender is recommended or the State Parole Authority in deciding if the offender should be released to reintegration home detention or on parole. Those submissions allow victims to express their views and request conditions they feel should be imposed on the offender if leave or parole is granted. That supports the principles of therapeutic jurisprudence by allowing a victim's voice to be heard when relevant decisions are made. I believe that the bill takes a commonsense approach that will go to a considerable way to giving reassurance to victims in their particular situations. I commend the bill to the House.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (16:56:48):

Today I address a matter that strikes at the heart of our justice system: the treatment and support of victims. The Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025 is a step towards ensuring that victims are not left in the dark but are informed, supported and empowered within our justice system. The primary objective of the bill is to enhance communication between victims and the justice system. It mandates that government agencies proactively notify victims and their families about their rights and eligibility to be included in the victims registers. That ensures that victims are informed about available services, support and the status of offenders.

Key provisions include empowering victims through information by amending key legislation to ensure victims are promptly notified when they are eligible to be listed in a victims register. That timely information is essential for victims to access relevant support services and to monitor the status of offenders. Another key provision is support for families. Recognising that some victims may be minors or incapacitated, the bill allows family representatives to receive notifications on their behalf. That provision ensures that families are adequately informed and can act in the best interests of their loved ones.

I reflect on the impact of domestic violence on victims in this State. I want to mention a story in the newspaper today about a shocking case that highlights the urgent need for this bill. In 2009, former New South Wales police sergeant Samantha Barlow was brutally attacked by Roderick Holohan, who struck her with a brick. That left her with a fractured skull, a broken nose and neck injuries. Despite the severity of the assault, Barlow was not informed about Holohan's impending parole until just days before his release, and that notification came indirectly through a friend. She has said that the lack of timely and direct communication left her feeling vulnerable and unprepared. Following his release, Holohan was charged with allegedly threatening and intimidating a woman known to him, which highlights the critical gap in our system: the absence of timely and coordinated information‑sharing between agencies. Barlow expressed her profound sense of betrayal, stating:

There are no words that can accurately describe the sense of betrayal that comes from something like this.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring that the changes in the victims registers bill reflect the needs and interests of victims. By ensuring that victims and their families are promptly notified and supported, we can prevent such tragedies and hold offenders accountable. Last night I noted in my private member's statement—and I will not go over all of it again—the increase in domestic violence related assaults and domestic violence related deaths across our State this year. We need to ensure that we are addressing all of the levels of the justice system that interact with women, men and children who are victims of domestic and family violence.

I note that, when we were in government, the Coalition, with the support of Labor in opposition, invested a record $787 million—the largest funding commitment ever made—in a range of programs in the domestic violence sector. We facilitated the immediate termination of a tenancy to escape violence. In the 2021‑22 budget, we invested in ensuring that there were specialist domestic and family violence services. We expanded Staying Home Leaving Violence and we had joint investment in the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence National Partnership Agreement with the Commonwealth Government. I also note that the Federal Coalition has been pursuing support for a national domestic violence register. That would further enhance the work of this legislation by making information available across State and Federal jurisdictions, creating a seamless process for victims. Ultimately, the Liberals and The Nationals are dedicated to strengthening the rights of victims across Australia. The bill reflects that commitment at the State level, ensuring that laws and procedures are implemented and replicated across the nation.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

It being 5.00 p.m., pursuant to standing and sessional orders, debate is interrupted for the public interest debate. I set down resumption of the debate as an order of the day for a later hour.