New Alternatives to Suspended Sentences

The Liberal Government’s commitment to introduce an increased range of sentencing options to replace suspended sentences will give Tasmanians confidence that our courts have the ability to deliver sentences which reflect the gravity of the crime committed.

We don’t support suspended sentences because they don’t reflect the gravity of serious crimes, and they are an inadequate rehabilitation option for lesser offenders.

This is clearly demonstrated by 2012-13 data showing the sentences handed down by Tasmanian courts. This data reveals:

• 44 per cent of sex offenders received a fully suspended sentence.

• 56 per cent of people convicted of serious violence offences received a fully suspended sentence.

• 77 per cent of custodial sentences handed down by the Supreme and Criminal Courts for serious drug offences were fully suspended.

Labor and the Greens might be happy to be soft on those offenders, but the community isn’t, victims of crime aren’t, and neither are we.

Further, there are many examples of these offenders committing the same serious offences again, the previous suspended sentence not being activated, and the offender given another suspended sentence. Something has to change.

This is an issue of community safety and public confidence in the justice system, and we make no apology for standing up for the community.

Labor and the Greens are woefully ignorant of sentencing options used in other jurisdictions.

We have clearly said that we will be bringing in an increased range of alternative sentencing options used successfully in other jurisdictions to give the judiciary greater flexibility in handing down appropriate sentences.

The Sentencing Advisory Council is currently investigating what the most appropriate options are for Tasmania.

It is highly surprising and disappointing that Labor and the Greens aren’t supporting an increased range of modern sentencing options, which will deliver better rehabilitation outcomes and give the community greater confidence in the justice system.
Vanessa Goodwin, Attorney-General