Sentencing Act 2017

Any person may make a submission to the Commissioner for Victims'

Rights for the purpose of assisting the Commissioner to compile information which may be included in a statement under this section.

In proceedings to determine sentence for an offence, the prosecutor or the Commissioner for Victims' Rights may, if they think fit, provide the sentencing court with—

a written statement about the effect of the offence, or of offences of the same kind, on people living or working in the location in which the offence was committed (a neighbourhood impact statement);

or

a written statement about the effect of the offence, or of offences of the same kind, on the community generally or on any particular sections of the community (a social impact statement).

Before determining sentence for the offence, the court will cause the statement to be read aloud to the court by the prosecutor, or such other person as the court thinks fit, unless the court determines that it is inappropriate or would be unduly time consuming for the statement to be so read.

The validity of a sentence is not affected by non‑compliance or insufficient compliance with this section.