Questions over power, independence of Queensland Victims’ Commissioner

The proposed model of Queensland’s incoming Victims’ Commissioner is not independent enough, advocates say, with concerns it will lack the power to hold government agencies to account for failing victims.

Jon Rouse APM has been serving as interim Victims’ Commissioner until the role is established with an inaugural appointee. The job is currently being advertised with a salary of up to $392,000.

The council, established in September to give victims a voice in criminal justice reform, wanted financial penalties or mandatory corrective actions for people or government agencies which did not comply with the commissioner’s orders.In separate submissions, the Queensland Sexual Assault Network and the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence also seized on the perceived lack of independence, which they said was critical to building trust in the process from victims and the community.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath on Monday sought to address the criticism, insisting the commissioner would be independent as the government had promised.

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