ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury survives no-confidence vote

ACT Attorney-General and Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury has survived a motion of no-confidence against him. Find out what happened.

Canberra Liberals MLA Jeremy Hanson has launched a motion of no-confidence against ACT Attorney General Shane Rattenbury. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Controversy over sentencing and bail in the ACT boiled over to a no-confidence vote against ACT Attorney-General and Greens leader Shane Rattenbury.

Mr Rattenbury survived the vote of no-confidence with 16 Members of the Legislative Assembly voting against the motion and 9 voting for the motion.

Liberal MLA Jeremy Hanson levelled a vote of no confidence against Mr Rattenbury after delivering three petitions to the ACT Legislative Assembly from Tom McLuckie — the father of crash victim Matthew McLuckie.

The petitions call for tougher sentencing guidelines for reckless motor vehicle crimes, a review into sentencing in the Nation’s Capital and a review of judicial appointments.

In the chamber Mr Hanson called for an independent review into sentencing and bail, and described the “scales of justice” in the ACT Legal system as “unbalanced”.

“The police have lost confidence you, the police have lost confidence in the Chief Minister and the Attorney-General,” he said.

“(We need) an independent review, how hard is that?”

Canberra Liberals MLA Jeremy Hanson has launched a motion of no-confidence against ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

In reply to the motion, Mr Rattenbury said sentencing was “an inherently delicate issue”.

“Very few of us have sat through the whole process and are aware of all the issues,” he said.

On the issue of bail Mr Rattenbury accused Mr Hanson was “essentially arguing … that no one should be awarded bail as anyone accused of an offence poses an intolerable risk”.

“It doesn’t matter who they are or what they are accused of, or how old or young they are, they shouldn’t be in the community on bail,” he said. “That is an extreme position.”

ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury is facing a vote of no-confidence following controversy around ACT’s sentencing and bail practices. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Chief Minister Andrew Barr described Mr Hanson’s motions as being “all about politics and all about media coverage of this issue”.

“A no-confidence motion is the most serious motion in this place,” he said

Mr Barr said there was “a pattern” emerging from the opposition that was “devaluing” the meaning of no-confidence motions.

“On this issue Mr Hanson lay down your weapons, and try to find a solution.”

Mr Hanson replied “the solution is an independent review.”