New laws see graffiti vandals face longer jail terms

LAWS forcing graffiti vandals to clean up their mess – which costs tax and ratepayers millions of dollars each year – have passed through Queensland Parliament.

LAWS forcing graffiti vandals to clean up their mess - which costs tax and ratepayers millions of dollars each year - have passed through Queensland Parliament.

The vandals also face longer jail terms with maximum sentences increased from five to seven years.

The criminal law amendments, passed on Tuesday night, also require drug traffickers to serve at least 80% of their jail sentence before they are eligible for parole.

People who push heroin or amphetamines on a child now face a maximum of life imprisonment while suppliers giving children marijuana face a maximum of 25 years.

The laws changes also allow victims of crime to read an impact statement aloud in court if they wish.