Crime compo rejected as strain on Budget

Territory victims of crime should be compensated for property damage caused by drunks and criminals, it has been claimed.

But the Territory Government last night dismissed the call as an "unbearable strain on the budget".

CLP Member for Katherine Fay Miller made the call in Parliament following three incidents of unprovoked vandalism in the town in recent weeks.

DAVID and Shannon Van de Weyer were attacked in the main street by a gang of drunks - as revealed by the Northern Territory News.

The drunks used a sledgehammmer to smash their car.

TERRY Dickens, a 64-year-old crippled pensioner, was mugged by a group of five youths last month.

In a daylight attack, they surrounded his motorised wheelchair and stole his wallet.

The incident was also reported by the Northern Territory News.

DARREN Crotty's car was damaged last month when he was forced to stop in front of a drunken street brawl.

Three members of the group ran towards his car, with one jumping on the bonnet and smashing a car window.

Ms Miller told Parliament: "[These incidents] are of great concern to the community and reflect very badly on what is happening.

"How can these drug-related incidents, and alcohol-related incidents, happen to families who have no recourse to get repayment or compensation for the damage which has been caused to their property?

"I want to ask the minister if the Government could look at areas of addressing compensation for these people."

But Richard O'Leary, a spokesperson for Attorney-General Peter Toyne, said last night compensation for victims was only given for personal injury.

He said the courts could judge compensation claims for property damage.

"I fully empathasise with the families involved," he said.

"But if Fay Miller is proposing the Crimes (Victims Assistance) Act be expanded to include property damage, she has just committed the CLP to massive tax rises to pay for what would be an unbearable drain on the budget."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 15th February 2005
Author: Paul Dyer
Source: Northern Territory News
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au