Since 1989 the NSW Victims Compensation Scheme has paid out almost $1.6 billion in compensation to victims of crime.
Only $57.4 million of which has been recovered from the proceeds of crime to help fund the compensation scheme, with debts owed by offenders through unpaid levies totalling $310 million to June 2012.
Peter Achterstraat, NSW Auditor-General, said that he was concerned that offenders have effectively caused $1.6 billion of damage but have only paid $57.4 million in compensation.
Currently there is a four-year backlog, some 21,946 pending claims for victims’ compensation, which has tripled since 2006.
More than 68% of outstanding claims are over one year old with the average time taken to process a claim increasing to thirty-one months and with the oldest outstanding claims dating back to 1997.
The average payment per crime compensation claim is $10,284.00.
The state government is currently reviewing the compensation scheme with the view to providing faster and more effective financial support to victims of violent crime.
For victims of crime support and advice call 1800 000 055 or (03) 9415 9492 go to www.victimsofcrime.com.au
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