NSW budget boosts justice funding and support for victim-survivors

With the NSW Budget just weeks away, the Minns Labor Government has started the major announcements, today detailing how they will inject more than half a billion dollars into the justice system.

The upcoming 2025-26 NSW Budget will have a strong focus on supporting victim-survivors of crime and improving community safety.

An additional $227 million will be allocated over five years to the Victims’ Support Service, which offers counselling and financial assistance to victim-survivors of violent crime and their families. This includes help with funeral and medical expenses.

A new $49.4 million vulnerable persons court hub will also be established to allow victim-survivors, particularly those impacted by sexual or domestic violence, to give evidence remotely. The hub is expected to be operational by late 2027.

The facility will offer services such as counselling, legal aid and financial advice, aiming to reduce trauma for witnesses by avoiding direct contact with alleged perpetrators in court settings.

Premier Chris Minns said the initiative would make a major difference for vulnerable witnesses.

“This package is about building a safer New South Wales and better protecting victim-survivors,” Minns said.

“We will deliver new courtrooms and a unique new hub allowing vulnerable victim-survivors to testify from a different location than their perpetrator.”

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will receive $48.3 million to employ more solicitors to increase prosecution capacity, while $12.8 million will fund staff for the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program, enabling young witnesses to pre-record their testimony for later playback in court.

To address rising pressure on the prison system, Corrective Services NSW will receive an additional $100.5 million to manage growing inmate numbers, driven by tougher domestic violence bail laws.

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said the investment would prioritise community safety.

“This funding of over $100m will ensure that Corrective Services has the resources it needs to keep those that should be off the streets behind bars, for the benefit of the whole community,” he said.

A further $2.3 million will fund reforms to the NSW Victims Register, ensuring that eligible victims are notified of their right to receive key information about offenders, including sentencing and parole eligibility.

The Budget also includes a $272.7 million commitment to frontline domestic, family and sexual violence services.

This comprises $9.3 million to implement Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders, which will allow courts to impose strict conditions on high-risk domestic violence offenders.

An additional $11.2 million will fund long-term reforms to domestic and family violence systems. This includes five-year contracts for support services, $3.6 million for a common risk assessment framework, $2.5 million for a new workforce strategy, and $3.1 million for a data strategy to improve accountability and identify service gaps.

A further $2 million will go towards rolling out an Aboriginal Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence plan, aimed at addressing violence against Aboriginal women, children and communities.

Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said the funding would enable much-needed structural improvements.

“This funding is the next step in this government’s work to build a safer NSW, by getting the foundations of workforce, data and systems right,” she said.

Attorney General Michael Daley said the investments would also strengthen court operations and better support child witnesses.

“The Minns Labor Government is working hard to improve access to justice by expanding the capacity of Sydney’s courts and reducing trauma for vulnerable victim-survivors,” he said.

“This Budget lays the foundation for long-term reform that the sector has been crying out for which will mean victim-survivors continue to receive the appropriate, wraparound support when they escape abuse.”