Mandatory sentencing proposal voted down in NT Parliament

A bill that would have seen mandatory sentencing for those who attack essential workers including police and paramedics has failed in Parliament.

THURSDAY UPDATE: A bill that would have seen mandatory sentencing for those who attack essential workers including police and paramedics has failed in Parliament.

Members of the NT Legislative Assembly on Wednesday voted down the CLP’s proposed reforms to the Sentencing Act.

WEDNESDAY: THE NT Police Association (NTPA) says members have been spat on nine times since April 2 and punched or kicked at least 14 times in the same period, as the Opposition pushes for tougher mandatory sentencing laws in NT Parliament.

On Wednesday, the CLP proposed reforms to the Sentencing Act, including new mandatory sentences for assaults on essential workers.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said the changes meant actions such as spitting on or punching a worker would attract a mandatory sentence in prison, even if no weapon was involved and the worker didn’t suffer any harm.

However, the reforms were vehemently opposed by Labor who said assaults on workers already carried a term of mandatory imprisonment but only for second or subsequent offences.

Police Minister Nicole Mansion said that in the past year, 66 people were sentenced to a term of imprisonment for an average imprisonment of 118 days after assaulting a worker.

“This is something the courts take seriously because people are spending above the mandatory sentence in prison already,” Ms Manison said.

“Currently there is no minimum sentence for a first offences but the data in fact shows more often than not these offenders (...60 per cent of the time) are given a sentence … they already go to prison.”

During a press conference this week, Ms Finocchiaro was unable to name any legal experts in the NT who backed the change, instead claiming the legislation sent a clear message.

“This is important minimum mandatory sentencing legislation ... to would be offenders and cowards who want to attack people while they’re at work ... if you do the crime, you will do the time,” she said.

NT leader of the opposition Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Floss Adams.

Ms Finocchiaro said the definition at present was too broad and only attracted jail time if lasting physical harm was done to the victim.

On Wednesday, the NTPA backed the proposed changes saying it had recorded at least 37 attacks on its members in the past month.

NTPA president Paul McCue said his organisation wanted the government to back the CLP’s proposed law changes.

“Day in, day out, our members are being subjected to violent and disgusting behaviour. They are being targeted with violence while doing their job, a job which the vast majority of the community greatly appreciates them doing,” Mr McCue said.

INITAL:THE Northern Territory Police Association has thrown its support behind tougher laws which would up the penalty for offenders who assault workers.

It comes amid harrowing accounts of violence being directed at police officers, which the NTPA said had reached a rate of an assault per day.

The organisation said a policy auxiliary liquor inspector was allegedly spat on by a drunk man in Alice Springs over the weekend, while another was punched in the face in a separate incident.

The NTPA said these were in addition to 37 assaults on frontline workers recorded over the 37 days prior.

The CLP’s proposed amendments to the Sentencing Act would broaden the definition of ‘physical assault’ to include spitting and punching. The revised laws would apply to all workers, including police, ambulance workers, teachers, nurses, hospitality and retail staff.

It will be debated after Question Time on Wednesday.

The NT Police Association said 37 assaults against officers had been recorded in as many days.

The changes would see anyone found guilty of changes made stricter to cover all assaults.

NTPA president Paul McCue said his organisation wanted the government to back the CLP’s proposed law changes.

“Day in, day out, our members are being subjected to violent and disgusting behaviour. They are being targeted with violence while doing their job, a job which the vast majority of the community greatly appreciates them doing,” Mr McCue said.

“Penalties for assaulting police must be stronger and Ms Fyles has the chance to support the police who worked tirelessly for her during the pandemic when she was the Health Minister.”

Mr McCue said existing laws were letting too many get off without “any time served at all”.

Police Union Boss Paul McCue has pushed for tougher penalties. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“Something must change. For a person to spit at, punch, kick and attack a police officer and to walk away with a fine or suspended sentence – it doesn’t meet the community’s expectation. It doesn’t meet the expectations of our members,” he said.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro previously told ABC Radio the definition of ‘physical assault’ was too narrow, only applying to permanent, lifelong harm against the victim.

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