Hundreds sign open letter protesting mandatory sentencing for worker assaults

Hundreds of Territory frontline workers have signed an open letter protesting mandatory sentencing for worker assaults. Here’s why they aren’t happy with the laws designed to keep them safe.

Sentencing reforms aimed at keeping frontline workers safer were introduced last year. Picture: Courts NT

Hundreds of workers have signed a petition opposing minimum mandatory sentencing for assaults on frontline police, paramedics, doctors and nurses.

Mandatory sentencing reforms came into effect late last year as part of the CLP’s “reducing crime” package, a suite of law and order reforms introduced on urgency by the new government.

Anyone charged with harming or spitting on police or emergency workers will now spend at least three months behind bars.

An assault on workers causing physical harm, carried out by someone with a history of violent offending, will also carry a term of actual imprisonment where one did not exist before.

Hundreds of workers signed a petition protesting against the mandatory sentencing laws. Picture: Che Chorley

The petition titled “frontline workers against mandatory sentencing” called for a repeal of the laws, saying they “reject the CLP government’s attempt to use our workplace circumstances to push their agenda to increase criminalisation and incarceration rates”.

It argued the laws could discourage workers from reporting incidents for fear of condemning patients with acute medical conditions, mental impairment or psychiatric disorders.

“It would conflict with our code of ethics to report these incidents knowing they could result in the imprisonment of many of our most vulnerable clients,” the petition said.

“Mandatory sentencing will punish individuals without regard for their specific circumstances by removing sentencing options from the courts, and deprives offenders of access to family, culture and positive role-models.

“The NT Government should repeal these bad laws and work in good faith with unions to develop evidence-based policies that will actually keep frontline workers safe.”

Petition organiser Olivia – an emergency nurse who has withheld her last name for fear of losing her job – said she had suffered assaults at work.

“It’s traumatising, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, and I expect to feel safe at work,” she said.

“I don’t want a blanket mandatory sentence imposed on people who’ve assaulted me – that doesn’t make me safe at work. I want preventive strategies to stop it happening in the first place.”

Northern Territory Treasurer Bill Yan said there must be consequences for people who offend against workers. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Treasurer Bill Yan said the CLP made no apologies for people who offended against frontline workers facing real consequences for their actions.

“For far too long, we have seen offenders and people assaulting our frontline workers, and there have been very little to no consequences for their actions,” he said.

Asked if the mandatory sentencing laws would remove the courts’ discretion to deal with sensitive cases, Mr Yan said the courts still had options on how to apply laws.

“It will come down to the courts and the judges on how they apply the laws that are put before them,” he said.

“That’s their job, is to look at the offending and to look at how it took place, and to make the appropriate actions through the legal system that we have.”