Outrage over the sentence handed down to child sex offender

THERE is mass outrage from society over the sentence handed down to child sex offender Sterling Free in the Brisbane District Court.

There is mass outrage over the sentence handed down to child sex offender Sterling Free.

THERE is mass outrage from society over the sentence handed down to child sex offender Sterling Free in the Brisbane District Court (C–M, Oct 12).

Offences against children, the most vulnerable in our society, should be viewed seriously.

Judge Julie Dick has handed down the sentence within the frame of the law – in Queensland, a parole period is set at only 1/3 of the length of sentence.

Had this crime been committed in NSW, Free would have been given a standard non-parole period of eight years.

I call on the Queensland Government to look at the antiquated sentencing laws with regard to child sex offences and fall into line with NSW reforms.

Tracey Morris, Sippy Downs

IN recent times we have read about significant public discontent in sentences handed down for major crimes.

Two matters come to mind – a sentence of two years for the abduction and sexual assault of a young girl; and a sentence of 7½ years for an individual who drove a car when under the influence of drugs and alcohol and caused the death of three people.

When politicians set maximum penalties, they should also set minimums for serious crimes. However, I do not think that they care about public opinion. Until they do, we will have these light sentencing issues.

Let us hope that the victim and their families eventually receive justice. Let judges ensure that fair trials both to the defence and those charged with an offence happen in accordance with the law, but take the minimum sentencing out of their hands.

Politicians should show some courage and earn their keep.

C V Webster, Coolangatta

THE headline (C–M, Oct 12) is almost right. What it should have read is “Your kids aren’t safe in Queensland”.

The justice system in this state is a joke. A man sexually assaults a child and the perpetrator may be released back into the community in less than two years. Will the Attorney-General appeal?

Tony Miles, Chermside

THE story “ Your kids aren’t safe’’ (C–M, Oct 12) sent chills down my spine.

The laws and punishments are inadequate and need to be overhauled by the Government, as a matter of urgency before another innocent child is brutally taken advantage of.

Build more prisons, hire and train more prison guards, increase punishment befitting the crime.

Some crimes committed by offenders definitely do not deserve a second chance, no matter what they profess and claim they are sorry. Sometimes “turning the other cheek” does not work.

It would be a travesty of justice if this offender, Stirling Free, is unleashed again into the community.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath should appeal and seek a longer sentence.

Susan McLochlan, Caboolture South

IT is a sad fact that our society has among its members sexual predators (C–M, Oct 12).

But our kids are not safe if they are not supervised. In the case of the little girl who was kidnapped from a supermarket by a predator, I asked myself: Where were her carers?

Stephen Kazoullis, South Brisbane

I CAN sympathise with the parents of the seven-year-old child abducted by Sterling Free but it doesn’t stop me asking: “Where were the parents when this happened?”

Free may well have been friendly to her but why wasn’t she properly supervised. Will no-one accept responsibility these days?

Paul Everingham, Hamilton

THE inadequacy of laws to keep a convicted paedophile away from the public is not the only area that needs addressing (C–M, Editorial Oct 12).

The other area of concern is the lack of parents supervision. There are other dangers out there such as cars and swimming pools. How often do we read about some unsupervised child being hit by a vehicle in the driveway of a family home or a child drowning in the family backyard pool?

Blaming our laws is an easy cop out, parents must bear some responsibility too.

Peter Pak, Rochedale South

AS a parent and grandparent, I ask how can the law get it so wrong?

It is shocking to read that a heinous sexual predator, Sterling Free, (a father of twins himself) who abducted and sexually molested an innocent seven-year-old girl from a suburban shopping centre, received such a paltry sentence which might enable him to be freed and living next door to any family in less than two years.

Astonishingly, Brisbane District Court Judge Julie Dick set Free’s parole eligibility date as early as August 2021, claiming she didn’t consider him a “serious violent offender”.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington has echoed the public’s outrage when she said: “This isn’t justice, this horrible human being needs to be locked up for his entire sentence.”

The onus is on the Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath to appeal the far too lenient sentence.

Rudolf Bojtschuk, Brisbane City

WHAT lessons are we teaching our children?

Commit a heinous crime like molesting a seven-year-old and get a slap on the wrist by the criminal justice system.

Wander the streets causing a public nuisance and as long as you are 20 or under they are let go with a fine because their brain isn’t fully formed.

I think you will find that while the brain may not be fully formed, the capacity to know right from wrong is not something that you have to wait until your 40s to obtain.

Our children deserve better lessons. The criminal justice system should protect our weakest members or else why have one?

Shani Doig, Coorparoo

JOYCE ON WRONG FOOT

RE the story “Joyce burns poor farmers” (C–M, Oct 12).

So-called drought envoy, Barnaby Joyce, thinks farmers who need continued government support to care for their land during the present record drought should look elsewhere to make a living

If these people take this advice and sell off their land, how does Mr Joyce expect the new owners (providing they can be found) to cope without government support unless they have abundant financial resources, in which case they would probably be looking for better-watered land much closer to the coast. Perhaps Mr Joyce should think before he speaks.

Douglas Mackenzie, Eatons Hill

BARNABY Joyce has said that if farmers are finding it difficult to cope with crippling drought, they should consider walking away from their land and find another job.

Given that it’s not that long ago that Mr Joyce told us he was struggling on $270,000+ a year, perhaps he should take his own advice and find a new job.

Cherie Alexander, Runcorn

Now would be a good time for all the CEOs in particular the banks to show some compassion and charity and give a helping hand to the farmers by starting a feed chain for dying animals and water for

towns. As for the Queensland public servants, they should show some heart and redirect their recent bonuses to the farmers.

Gunter Blum, Toowong

BLAME GOES AROUND

SHARRI Markson (C–M, Oct 12) asks the obvious question of what the quid pro quo was for the donations raised by Huang Xiangmo for the NSW and federal Labor parties.

While Ms Markson’s focus was to blast Labor, both parties need to be asked the quid pro quo question.

Francis Carroll, Moorooka

GENDER BRANDING

THE Green’s push to make pregnancy gender neutral is to be applauded (C–M, Oct 12).

For way too long pregnancy has been a female thing. I look forward to midwives becoming midspouses.

Pete Robinson, Everton Hills

Extinction Rebellion activist Eric Herbert. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

IN the act of sparing youthful serial Extinction Rebellion protester Eric Herbert (pictured) from the full force of the law, magistrate Judith Daley informed Herbert that “ science tells us your brain hasn’t fully developed yet” (C–M, Oct 12).

What a perfect summing-up of the entire Extinction Rebellion movement’s collective intellect?

Of course Ms Daley’s words must be music to the ears of any 20-year-old currently held in custody for whatever reason.

If left to run riot by the courts, they then run the risk of being severely dealt with by frustrated inner-city business owners and commuters who can then plead that their brains are sufficiently “under-developed’’, thus enabling them to be also free from any threat of incarceration for their crimes.

Crispin Walters, Chapel Hill

IT is hard to comprehend a magistrate’s softly, softly approach when handing down sentences to the serial time-wasting Extinction Rebellion activists (C–M, Oct 12).

These protesters who continually obstruct and disrupt the CBD are handed down minimal punishment, only to repeat their theatrics the next day. The streets have become their stage and the emergency services and civilians their unwitting audience.

Helen Holdey, Brighton

IF Jo Bjelke-Petersen was at the helm in Queensland, the protests by climate change activists wouldn’t have lasted one day.

Why is the Queensland government putting up with this and, why are not heavier fines imposed by the courts? These protesters laugh at the courts and the people of Queensland and keep on offending over and over again.

Werner Schmidlin, Yorkeys Knob

The so-called Extinction Rebellion and the people involved with it

are a menace.

Why do they do it? Simply because they can. For them there is no downside. If they are arrested, someone pays the fine, no conviction is recorded and they are back on the street ready to do it again.

Why can’t the courts and the

governments act to protect the

long-suffering public from this mindless and pointless nonsense.

David Lissenden, Main Beach

EXTINCTION Rebellion protesters are to be praised for caring about earth’s degradation.

To march in searing heat in Brisbane recently is a true test of faith. I admired the strength of moral conviction needed to fuel the impetus for mass action to avert a spiralling global catastrophe.

Let us hope the protests continue until they are heard by leaders charged with leading us out of the climate abyss.

Joseph Ting, Carina

THE week of activism by Extinction Rebellion has come and gone.

Did anyone listen to them?

Apparently so, as authorities threatened to jail activists deliberately chaining themselves to structures and to stop welfare payments for those protesters who break the law. In my view, this is nothing more than meaningless political speak.

Nothing of significance was achieved by the week of protest other than putting a lot of good people, and those with a genuine concern about climate change off side.

Jim Anderson, Innisfail

AUSTRALIA is a wonderful country, the envy of many worldwide. We are blessed to have the privilege of living here, having the best of all worlds.

We have real heroes – ordinary people, just like you and I, going about their jobs quietly and efficiently, asking nothing in return.

The people I am referring to are our emergency workers, the police, SES and the fire services, many of whom are volunteers, along with the ambulance and hospital workers.

They excel in time of natural disasters, and other times of need, like we have seen during recent floods and fires.

I congratulate those responsible and the Queensland emergency services for having such dedicated and skilled people at their disposal, at a minute’s notice.

They are a team of people who serve our communities in time of need and should be recognised publicly for the great job they do. They are modern day heroes.

Les Bryant, Durack

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