20th November, 2024.
https://youtu.be/-rXvRlG_Yfk
I thank the Government and the Attorney General for this amending bill, the Victims Rights and Support Amendment (Victims Support Counselling) Bill 2024. It is not an easy thing to speak on the subject of the victims of road crime and incidents involving acts of violence and crime that often end in the worst way—with the loss of loved ones. Unfortunately, such incidents have affected my community far too much. To that end, I recognise the families of the young people known as the Buxton five. The families would prefer not to be known as that, but, unfortunately, that is how is how they are recognised. Those families lost five children in a crash caused by reckless driving. The loss of those young people is still felt in Wollondilly today. In the past couple of weeks, there have a been some unfortunate incidents, and those parents have again been triggered and have come into the office to talk about issues they have. I thank those parents for not giving up and staying strong. I cannot imagine their loss or what it is like.
This bill is about caring for those who, through no fault of their own, are forced to deal with the loss of a immediate family loved one. I have sat with the families of the five, listened to their pain, supported their community awareness campaigns and taken them to the Government. The Attorney General has listened. I thank him for his comments in his second reading speech that recognised that time frames sometimes do not work. He said he will take that into consideration if any request falls slightly out of the time frames. I thank the Attorney General also for recognising my advocacy.
This amendment bill does much to provide for families who may be caught by similar tragic events in the future. It will provide counselling for immediate family members of victims of accidents similar to the tragic accident that happened just over two years ago in Buxton. The Government's stance on backdating the amendment and being open to having this provision open for others is right. I am glad to see bipartisanship and that this bill will pass unanimously through both Houses. Victims of road crimes, including the surviving family members of the five, need to know that this Parliament is there for them when they are most in need.