Section 12(b) of the Crimes (Victim's Assistance) Act 1983 (NT) does not preclude the issue of an assistance certificate where the offence was never reported to police; the statutory bar and its proviso operate only during the 'relevant period' (from the offence to a reasonable time thereafter), and once the failure to report within that period is excused, the provision ceases to have effect. The onus of establishing the statutory bar, including what constitutes a reasonable time, rests on the defendant. In assessing damages for indivisible psychological injury caused by multiple offences, the Magistrate must make clear from the reasoning that relevant factors (including the contribution of offences not the subject of applications) were considered.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 9 later cases that cite this judgment.