No second chances — Guy
VICTORIA’S criminal courts have been guilty of granting second, third, fourth and more chances to serious criminals who have gone on to rape, kill, assault and maim.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
VICTORIA’S criminal courts have been guilty of granting second, third, fourth and more chances to serious criminals who have gone on to rape, kill, assault and maim.
The notorious cases of Adrian Bayley, who murdered Jill Meagher in 2012, and Sean Price, who murdered schoolgirl Masa Vukotic in 2015, are just two repeat offenders who should not have been on the streets after long histories of serious crime.
Under two years of the Andrews Government, crime has increased a shocking 20.17 per cent and, despite parole restrictions, the promise of more police and changes to bail, much more must be done.
No justice system anywhere is perfect — recidivism, rehabilitation and human behaviour can be unpredictable. But that cannot mean the status quo is allowed to continue, with more innocent lives lost or forever damaged because those convicted of serious offences are given too many chances.
As revealed in Tuesday’s Herald Sun, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and shadow attorney-general John Pesutto have committed a Coalition government to requiring courts to impose mandatory minimum sentences for those guilty of serious second offences.
VICTORIAN OPPOSITION LEADER MATTHEW GUY PROMISES STATE’S TOUGHEST EVER SENTENCES
With more than four in every 10 prisoners going on to reoffend at some level, our revolving prison doors are spinning fast and the community is paying a heavy price — both in trauma and financial cost.
Getting tougher on repeat offenders is a necessity — it sends a clear message that a benefit-of-the-doubt approach won’t be given when criminals convicted of one serious offence go on to commit another.
Under the Opposition plan, the mandatory minimums for second serious offences include 11 categories: aggravated home invasions and carjackings, armed robbery, aggravated burglary, intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury with gross violence (minimum of 10 years); intentionally causing serious offence with gross violence (minimum of 12 years); manslaughter by a single punch or strike (minimum of 15 years); rape (minimum of 15 years) and murder (20-year minimum).
Sections of the judiciary and legal profession will likely protest a move to mandatory minimums. Judges and defence lawyers will almost certainly argue about the sanctity of separation of powers — that the justice system must reflect the legislature but be allowed to function independent of government.
The legal profession also resents having sentences imposed by government in individual cases where an endless range of mitigating and aggravating factors are applied to determine jail terms. But the justice system only has itself to blame with continual instances of soft sentences and a failure to properly consider community protection.
The Herald Sun fully supports the Opposition’s revolutionary approach to statutory minimums. They are a sound response to the crime crisis gripping Victoria. Mr Andrews knows he is exposed on law and order but be assured, the Guy-Pesutto sentence settings are no cynical grab for votes.
This is a well-considered, measured and necessary policy to reset the safety of Victorians above repeat chances for serial criminals.
Victorians expect repeat offenders charged with serious crimes to receive significant minimum jail terms. They have squandered a first chance at rehabilitation and community safety must come first.
VALE JOHN CLARKE
AUSTRALIA (and New Zealand) have lost a bit of magic in the passing of well-loved satirist John Clarke.
The comic genius and gifted writer blessed viewers with a career in which he stripped back the fog of politics and human foibles to help us laugh at the mundane and mendacious.
Since 1989, his mock interviews with collaborator Bryan Dawe cut political leaders to the quick and left people in living rooms across Australia in stitches.
The Kiwi-born funnyman and actor died from natural causes while hiking in the Grampians at age 68.
TRIBUTES FLOW FOR COMIC GREAT JOHN CLARKE
ANDREW RULE: GENTLE GIANT OF WIT WAS ALWAYS READY TO HELP
He will be fondly remembered for his work on the ABC, Channel Nine and TV specials including Kath and Kim and The Games.
Clarke and Dawe took the proverbial out of Paul Keating, Alexander Downer, George Bush, Alan Bond and so many others in deadpan, dry interviews.
It was a style and delivery all their own.
The prolific Clarke loved to write and turned out a string of political books including The Howard Miracle, The 7.56 Report, A Dagg at My Table, and The Catastrophe Continues, as well as co-writing several musicals.
Tributes poured in from across the comedy community and the political spectrum, including from both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.
Clarke’s victims were some of his biggest fans.
Sympathies were also passed to his wife Helen and two daughters Lorin and Lucia. Not only was Clarke revered for his comedy acumen and imagination, he was hugely respected as a person and family man.
Vale Clarke, a true original.
Human cost of pandemic goes much further than virus
Whether you are pro or anti-lockdown the grim, unintended consequences of the fixation on coronavirus are undeniable, as other diseases — including cancer and heart disease — go unchecked, and despair from joblessness, poverty and financial stress rises, writes Rita Panahi.
Premier must outline his plan so Melbourne can recover
As the community overwhelmingly complies with the Premier’s stage four restrictions, he must clearly outline his virus strategy so we can make plans to rebuild confidence and employment in our city, which right now is a ghost town, writes Jeff Kennett.