A statutory right to claim criminal injuries compensation, including for pain and suffering, where the compensation scheme is based on or analogous to antecedent common law rights against offenders, constitutes 'property' for the purposes of s 23(1)(a) of the ACT Self-Government Act. Retrospective legislation extinguishing such rights in respect of undetermined applications is invalid as an acquisition of property otherwise than on just terms where the Territory obtains a corresponding financial benefit. The case was decided 3-2, with the minority characterising the scheme as a welfare measure involving gratuitous payments.
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