Elise Archer,Attorney-General
Minister for Justice
Legislation to introduce minimum mandatory sentences for anyone who commits a serious sexual offence against a child will be introduced to Parliament later this year, in line with our longstanding commitment to protect our most vulnerable.
Any sexual offence against children is abhorrent, and the community rightfully expects that anyone who commits serious sexual offences against children should go to prison.
We have taken our policy to introduce mandatory prison time for serious sexual offences against children to three separate elections, and we have received a strong mandate each time – only for Labor to inexplicably vote against on every occasion.
Labor must no longer stand against this proposed legislation – now more than ever, this clearly has strong support from the community and victim-survivor advocates.
Tasmanians have endorsed these stronger sentences at every election, to ensure at least a minimum term of imprisonment, but with the absolute discretion for higher custodial sentences, under the Criminal Code – and quite rightly so.
Our new Bill will amend the Act to provide for mandatory minimum sentencing provisions for certain crimes, focusing on child sexual offences.
And, as Labor well knows, the courts already have a discretion to impose the maximum prison sentence available under Tasmanian law for any crime.
Labor’s ill-informed position to increase the maximum sentence available will do absolutely nothing to guarantee convicted child sex offenders go to prison. They know full well that nowhere near the current maximum has ever been imposed.
The time has come for Labor to stand with us and support victim-survivors and our Government’s policy.
I will be progressing this new Bill as a matter of priority and I look forward to tabling it in Parliament shortly.
