Review of the Charter of Victims’ Rights
The Queensland Victims’ Commissioner is reviewing the Charter of Victims’ Rights to assess how well it meets the diverse needs of victims of crime in Queensland.
Read the Terms of Reference for this review.
Victims of crime, their advocates, family members and professionals who work with victims of crime are encouraged to share their views on the Charter through our consultation processes.
The Victims’ Commissioner will provide a report to the Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services by December 2026.
What is the Charter of Victims’ Rights?
The Charter of Victims’ Rights outlines how victims of violent crime (including domestic and family violence) should be treated by Queensland Government agencies and their officers, and funded non-government agencies that provide services to victims of crime.
The Charter sets out:
- general rights
- rights related to the criminal justice system
- the right to make a complaint if a victim’s rights are not upheld.
Why is the Charter of Victims’ Rights being reviewed?
The review aims to ensure the Charter of Victims’ Rights effectively promotes and protects the rights of diverse victims of crime, in line with recommendations in:
- the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce, Hear her voice: Report two - Women and girls' experiences across the criminal justice system report
- the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee’s Inquiry into support provided to victims of crime.
The review aligns with the Victims’ Commissioner’s functions under section 9(a) of the Victims’ Commissioner and Sexual Violence Review Board Act 2024.
What will the review focus on?
The review will examine:
- the purpose of the Charter and whether it aligns with community expectations
- public awareness and understanding of the Charter
- accessibility of the Charter and its complaints processes
- how the Charter is operating in practice
- accountability of agencies in upholding victims’ rights under the Charter
- the Charter’s impact on victims’ experiences.
The review will also consider whether any changes to the Charter are needed, like:
- expanding rights to different types of victims
- adding new or different rights
- extending obligations to additional organisations
- strengthening enforcement of the Charter.
You can read the review’s full Terms of Reference.
How can I participate in the review?
Victims of crime, advocates, family members and professionals working with victims of crime are encouraged to take part.
Key dates
- 17 February 2025 – Terms of Reference released
- 4 August 2025 – Issues Paper released, opening date for submissions
- 17 October 2025 – Closing date for submissions
- December 2026 – The Victims’ Commissioner will provide a report to the Minister.
When we release the Issues Paper, we will provide more information on our website about different ways you can provide feedback.
To stay informed about the review and consultation events, you can:
You can also share feedback at any time through our online contact form, anonymously if you prefer.