Offender Debt Recovery
Queensland law allows the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to recover monies paid by the state to victims of violence, from people convicted of relevant offences in a Queensland court.
In some circumstances, a period of time may have elapsed between the offence occurring and a recovery notice being issued to the convicted person. This is because prior to 1 December 2009 the only way the state could recover a criminal injury compensation payment was by enforcement of a compensation order made by a court under the Criminal Offence Victims Act 1995 (COVA).
The introduction of Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009 (VOCAA) on 1 December 2009 allows the state to recover the money paid to victims under COVA as well as financial assistance paid to victims under VOCAA from people convicted of the offence.
More detailed information on recovery of payments made under each Act is available.