Bill giving victims financial support passes first reading

Simon Power said victims should know what payments they will have to make. Photo / Mark Mitchell

An amendment to the Legal Services Act will mean all crime victims will get financial support to attend coronial inquests and Parole Board hearings, Justice Minister Simon Power says.

The Legal Services Amendment Bill, which passed its first reading in Parliament last night, is to ensure victims are not subject to financial eligibility tests or need to repay legal aid grants for lawyers needed when attending inquests and Parole Board hearings.

Mr Power referred to an incident last year where the partner of Karl Kuchenbecker, who was murdered by Graeme Burton, received a letter from the Legal Services Agency asking her to repay $19,000 granted in legal aid for the inquest into his death.

"That was not acceptable. That letter re-victimised Mr Kuchenbecker's partner," Mr Power said.

"The Government is now moving to ensure that does not happen again. Victims should not be treated that way and left uncertain about what payments they will have to make."

While most victims needed support from other services, such as Victim Support, there were rare cases where victims of crime needed legal representation at inquests and parole hearings.

The bill also enables the Legal Services Agency to decide not to recover legal aid debt at any time during proceedings.

- NZPA