The Queensland Government is reviewing potential fraud within a major financial assistance program designed to support victims of crime, amid growing concerns about possible misuse of the scheme.
The Victim Assist Queensland (VAQ) program provides financial support to victims recovering from crime, covering expenses such as counselling, legal fees, relocation costs, and one-off compensation payments for victims of violent offences.
The scheme has experienced a significant increase in both applications and payouts in recent years. During the 2024-25 financial year, Victim Assist Queensland paid out nearly A$244 million, a sharp rise from approximately A$100 million the previous financial year and just under A$40 million in 2022-23.
Amid reports of potential abuse of the system, Laura Gerber, Queensland’s Youth Justice Minister, warned that fraudulent claims would not be tolerated.
“Our priority is supporting victims, including domestic and family violence victims, and any financial assistance fraud is not only a crime but takes support away from victims in their time of need,” Gerber said.
“We strongly urge anyone with allegations of fraud to come forward with information.”
While the minister did not rule out tightening eligibility requirements to prevent abuse, she declined to comment on any specific internal reviews or investigations currently underway.
The issue has sparked debate among victim support advocates, who caution against reforms that could make it harder for genuine victims to access assistance.
Gillian O’Brien, Director of the Sexual Violence Prevention Association, urged the government to carefully consider any major changes to the program.
She noted that under current arrangements, some victims can receive assistance without formally reporting incidents to police, provided they have supporting evidence from professionals such as doctors or psychologists.
“If there were any changes to assessment processes, the last thing I would want to see is going backwards to requiring police reporting for all matters,” O’Brien said.
Supporters of the current framework argue that many victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other serious crimes may be unwilling or unable to make formal police reports, and that alternative pathways remain essential to ensuring they receive support.
The review comes as authorities seek to balance strong fraud prevention measures with maintaining access to assistance for vulnerable victims who rely on the program during recovery.
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