CLP To Throw Away Key on Violent Criminals

Violent criminals will face much longer jail time under an elected Country Liberal Government than they have done under the last 7 years of Labor rule.

“Territorians need certainty in sentencing for violent criminals, we need the courts to impose real jail time for violent crime,” says Terry Mills, Leader of the Opposition.

“The 83% rise in violent assaults since Labor came to office marks out the Henderson Government as a complete failure on law and order.

“The right to personal safety is the most fundamental of human rights and the Henderson Government has sat back whilst the rate of violent assault climbed ever higher.

“Rather than confront the issue the Labor Government has concocted one lame excuse after another to deny the fact that violent assaults have been rising throughout its time in power.

“The Labor Government has variously blamed changed police reporting methods, increased numbers of police and increased reporting of domestic violence.

“Only recently has the Labor Government admitted that violent crime in the Territory is a genuine problem.

“The Chief Minister’s solution to the rise in violent crime across the Territory is to scuttle to an early election to avoid having to answer for the next series of crime figures.

“In the process the Chief Minister has promised to increase sentences for violent crime but won’t legislate those changes until after the election.

“Paul Henderson has form on promising to get tough on crime in election campaigns only to renege after the election is over.

“During the 2005 election the Chief Minister released a policy that promised habitual drunks would be forced into compulsory rehabilitation or jail. The promised legislation never saw the light of day.

“The Country Liberals have no doubt that the breakdown in law and order needs urgent Government intervention.

“Our courts are now seen as a revolving door for offenders and too many criminals have no fear of the sentences being imposed.

“That must change and the country Liberals are willing to make that change.

“A Country Liberals Government will amend the Sentencing Act to establish new and meaningful minimum sentencing guidelines for offences involving assault.”

On a first conviction for assault, where the assault causes serious harm;

· a minimum sentence of not less than six months will be imposed.

On a second or subsequent conviction for assault, within ten years of the first conviction, there will be no provision to suspend a sentence, in whole or in part, and genuine minimum jail terms will be imposed as follows:

· Where the second offence is any assault, a minimum sentence of one month;

· Where the second offence is an aggravated assault, a minimum sentence of three months;

· Where the second offence causes serious harm, a minimum sentence of one year.

If a person is convicted on several counts of assault arising from one incident, those convictions will be treated jointly as a first conviction.

“Territorians want and deserve certainty in sentencing for violent criminals – the Country Liberals will deliver that certainty.”

2008-07-24