1.9 Justice and community safety

This Budget invests over $650.0 million to support victim-survivors and build a safer New South Wales.

Support for victims

• $226.8 million for the Victims Support Scheme, ensuring continued access to counselling and financial support for victims of violent crime and modern slavery.
• $272.7 million for domestic, family and sexual violence services to continue work on reducing violence against women and children and supporting victim-survivors.

Access to justice

• $48.3 million for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to keep pace with thegrowing volume and complexity of cases and maintain an efficient, fair and just prosecution service.
• $12.8 million for the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program, to employ child-friendly practices and avoid delays to give evidence, that aim to reduce the stress, distress and trauma of child sexual offence complainants and child witnesses who go through the criminal justice system.

Courts

• $49.4 million for a new hub to support victim-survivors to participate in legal proceedings in a trauma-safe environment, allowing witnesses to give evidence remotely via video link without having to re-encounter their perpetrators.
• $34.5 million for upgrades to the Downing Centre and John Maddison Tower, allowing for the creation of 10 new courtrooms to facilitate centralised bail hearings and five courtrooms for non-custodial matters, which will improve time to justice for victims and their families.

Police

• $50.0 million to deliver critical upgrades to NSW Police Force ICT infrastructure to support and enhance modern digital policing capabilities.
• $46.3 million for a new replacement Police Class 1 Ocean Patrol Vessel to ensure the NSW Police Force can continue to conduct extended offshore operations.
• $6.0 million to purchase critical communications and analysis equipment to assist in specialist investigations to disrupt crime and keep citizens of New South Wales safe.
• $945,000 for surveillance systems to support serious, major and organised crime investigations.

Corrections

An additional $100.5 million is being provided to address rising demand in the corrections system, driven by an increase in alleged offenders (including domestic violence) both in custody and in the community. This funding will also sustain Corrective Services NSW supervision and service delivery to support rehabilitation and community safety.

Cyber security

• $87.7 million to fund Cyber Security NSW’ work with government entities to prevent, detect and recover from cyber incidents.