Opposition leader David Speirs calls for harsher penalties to combat SA crime

The recent high-profile crimes that have rocked SA have prompted calls for a major crackdown on offenders, as the Opposition accuses the Government of a “flat-footed response”.

A slew of high-profile crimes across SA recently have sparked Opposition demands for harsher penalties for offenders, including for “softer” offences such as shoplifting

Opposition leader David Speirs has slammed the government, blaming the spread of criminal activity into the suburbs on the state government’s “flat-footed response”.

In the past 12 months, home invasions have increased by 311 incidents, shop theft has seen a 30 per cent rise, robbery offences up by 27 per cent, abduction and harassment 18 per cent, serious assault resulting in injury has gone up by 16 per cent and aggravated sexual assault by 8 per cent. Family and domestic violence related offences have increased by 11 per cent.

SA was sent into a state of shock as news broke on December 11 that top Adelaide pediatrician Dr Michael Yung was fighting for his life after allegedly being brutally attacked in a violent break-in at his Gilberton home. A day later, SA Police announced he had died, with a young couple charged with his murder shortly after.

Earlier this month, the Advertiser reported shoplifting had become an organised crime “epidemic”, a peak retailers union warns, with more than 250 thefts reported to police weekly across South Australia and retail workers in the state assaulted or abused more than anywhere else in the country.

Opposition Leader David Speirs and Shadow Attorney General Josh Teague are calling for a harder penalties for crime. Picture: Supplied

Shop workers are now lobbying the state government to pass new trespassing laws allowing aggressive and abusive customers to be banned from stores for up to a year, as shoplifting and violent crimes against workers rise.

“We’ve seen a 30 plus per cent increase in home invasion and a 30 plus per cent increase in shop lifting,’ Mr Speirs said.

“Perhaps the penalties here are just not providing the deterrent or they’re not taking people off the streets for long enough to keep them from committing crime again in the future.”

“Offenders who are committing crimes are breaching bail (multiple) times,” shadow lawyer general Josh Teague said.

“Why are these people in circulation where they are continuing to breach bail?”

Mr Speirs said there was increasing acceptance among criminals that you “can just get away with things” and if the crime wave continues, South Australians “would have a lot to be scared about”.

“We have a situation currently where car theft has increased by 10 per cent in the past 12 months, and that is frequently associated with high-speed car chases.

“We must be applying prevention measures to make the consequences of stealing a car and engaging in chases more severe.”

The Opposition is calling for an independent review into increasing penalties for crimes such as home invasions, vehicle theft and breaching bail conditions.

A spokesman for the government said a review had been conducted in 2019.

“There was a thorough review of sentencing discounts completed by Brian Martin in 2019, and the then Liberal Government dragged their feet on a response.

“The Liberals even voted against a Labor bill to toughen sentencing discounts.

“Home invasions can already attract a life sentence, as can dangerous driving while fleeing police, if someone is hurt or killed.

“The State Government won’t hesitate to make legislative changes in circumstances when they are required to keep the community safe.”