Fearing the legislation might run into trouble, the government made amendments to its bill that will allow suspended sentences to remain for now with new sentencing options.

The new options would be reviewed independently for their effectiveness within two years.

Parliament would then consider fully removing suspended sentences by vote, and replacing them with the new home detention orders and community correction orders, with the benefit of information from the review.

Suspended sentences would also be abolished outright for serious sex offenders, drug traffickers and violent criminals

Several Legislative Councillors criticised the bill for not being evidence-based, including Labor.

The party had tried to make several amendments to the government’s new bill but these moves failed.

This included giving a magistrate more discretion on home detention orders.

Elwick Labor MLC Josh Willie said despite the amendment, the bill still represented a move away from suspended sentencing options.

Murchison independent MLC Ruth Forrest said parliamentarians needed to play a part in constructing the terms of references to guide the review.

Justice Minister Elise Archer welcomed the bill’s passing through the committee stage. 

“We look forward to continuing this cooperative approach with the council in the final weeks of the parliamentary year,” she said.​