NSW Government establishing independent commissioner to advocate for victim survivors of crime

Thursday, 7 August 2025

The Minns Labor Government is introducing legislation to establish an independent commissioner to advocate for victim survivors of crime.

The Victim Rights and Victims of Crime Commissioner Bill 2025, to be introduced into NSW Parliament on Thursday, fulfils an election promise to establish an Independent Victims Commissioner.

The new Commissioner will assume the advocacy functions of the current Commissioner of Victims Rights, who will continue to administer the Victims Support Scheme and register for victims of forensic patients. The new Commissioner will:

• Be appointed by the Governor and operate independently of Government.
• Advocate on behalf of victims of crime on a systemic level and oversee the Charter of Victims’ Rights, which sets out how victims of crime should be treated.
• Have the power to request or require an individual or agency to produce information or documents related to an alleged breach of the Charter.
• Be able to prepare special reports for NSW Parliament on relevant matters, including the Charter of Victims’ Rights, and enter information-sharing arrangements with public sector agencies.
• Be responsible for identifying, reviewing and conducting research into systemic issues faced by victims of crime, consulting with victims of crime and their supporters, and making recommendations to the Attorney General.

The Bill will also rename the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013 as the Victims Support Act 2013.

It allows the Independent Victims Commissioner to appoint a new Victims Advisory Committee to replace the existing Victims Advisory Board.

The new committee will include representatives from the general community who have relevant knowledge of and experience in matters relating to victims of crime.

It will also include an Aboriginal representative as well as representation from NSW Police, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Legal Aid and the Department of Communities and Justice.

The introduction of the legislation follows detailed and extensive consultation with key groups including victims’ support bodies and justice agencies.

Attributable to Attorney General Michael Daley:

“The Minns Labor Government stands with victim survivors of crime, and we are fulfilling our promise to establish a strong, independent advocate.

“The Independent Victims Commissioner will be integral in shaping policies affecting victim survivors.

“Importantly, they will be completely independent of Government and empowered to champion the interests of victim survivors.”