Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Act 2016

The commissioner must decide the amount of financial assistance that may be given to an applicant for financial assistance if the commissioner—

believes on reasonable grounds that the applicant is eligible to apply for the assistance under division 3.1 (Eligibility); and

is satisfied that the application for the assistance complies with division 3.4 (Applications for financial assistance); and

has decided under section 45, that no disqualifying circumstances apply in relation to the applicant.

The commissioner must—

for an application that includes a claim for an immediate need payment—

consider the extent to which services are available to the applicant—

under the victims services scheme; and

from other sources; and

decide the immediate needs the applicant has; and

decide the immediate need payment to be made to the applicant; and

for an application that includes a claim for an economic loss payment—

consider the extent to which services are available to the applicant—

under the victims services scheme; and

from other sources; and

decide the applicant’s economic loss; and

decide the economic loss payment to be made to the applicant; and

for an application that includes a claim for a recognition payment—

identify the act of violence that is the subject of the application; and

decide the recognition payment to be made to the applicant; and

if section 47 applies—reduce the amount in accordance with that section.

The commissioner must tell the applicant, by written notice, the commissioner’s decision.