THE state government has been accused of abandoning its promise to crack down on child sex offenders. The Liberal Party vowed to introduce laws threatening paedophiles with minimum jail time ahead of last year’s election. Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin renewed the pledge a month after the party’s landslide win. ‘‘We took our plan for the mandatory sentences to the people at the election and the people spoke overwhelmingly,’’ Dr Goodwin said at the time. ‘‘Formal consultation will commence shortly with the aim of introducing new laws as soon as possible.’’ Dr Goodwin now says the plan is in progress, with the government intending to consult with stakeholders as its legislation is developed. ‘‘The Sentencing Advisory Council is currently working on a reference from the previous government in relation to sex offender sentencing,’’ Dr Goodwin said. ‘‘We will be requesting the SAC to include consideration of the sentencing of serious child sexual offences in that work.’’ People Protecting Children president Allison Ritchie said the government was taking far too long to deliver on its promise. Ms Ritchie, a former Labor minister, said it appeared the government had gone cold on the idea. ‘‘I’m becoming increasingly concerned the government’s appetite for mandatory sentencing for serious offences against children is not matching its election rhetoric,’’ Ms Ritchie said. ‘‘Voters have every right to see this as a broken promise if the government doesn’t bring on its legislation soon.’’ Law Society of Tasmania president Matthew Verney welcomed the government’s approach. ‘‘Regardless of what it said before and immediately after the election, any government taking a consultative rather than a knee-jerk approach is behaving sensibly,’’ Mr Verney said. Irrespective of the seriousness of a crime, automatic sentencing carried too much risk of unjust and inappropriate outcomes. ‘‘Sentences must reflect community expectations, and all the evidence suggests our judges are already getting it right,’’ he said. Opposition justice spokeswoman Lara Giddings said it appeared that the government was retreating from its promise. ‘‘What should have been a straightforward election promise to implement has now being sent off to the Sentencing Advisory Committee with no time-line in place for legislation to come before the Parliament,’’ Ms Giddings said. ‘‘Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin is prepared to waste more valuable government resources on consultation she will not accept if the outcome opposes her policy, or she is admitting that she is not confident in her policy and is looking for any excuse to once again backflip on a promise.’’
THE state government has been accused of abandoning its promise to crack down on child sex offenders.
The Liberal Party vowed to introduce laws threatening paedophiles with minimum jail time ahead of last year’s election.
Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin renewed the pledge a month after the party’s landslide win.
Vanessa Goodwin
‘‘We took our plan for the mandatory sentences to the people at the election and the people spoke overwhelmingly,’’ Dr Goodwin said at the time.
‘‘Formal consultation will commence shortly with the aim of introducing new laws as soon as possible.’’
Dr Goodwin now says the plan is in progress, with the government intending to consult with stakeholders as its legislation is developed.
‘‘The Sentencing Advisory Council is currently working on a reference from the previous government in relation to sex offender sentencing,’’ Dr Goodwin said.
‘‘We will be requesting the SAC to include consideration of the sentencing of serious child sexual offences in that work.’’
People Protecting Children president Allison Ritchie said the government was taking far too long to deliver on its promise.
Ms Ritchie, a former Labor minister, said it appeared the government had gone cold on the idea.
‘‘I’m becoming increasingly concerned the government’s appetite for mandatory sentencing for serious offences against children is not matching its election rhetoric,’’ Ms Ritchie said.
‘‘Voters have every right to see this as a broken promise if the government doesn’t bring on its legislation soon.’’
Law Society of Tasmania president Matthew Verney welcomed the government’s approach.
‘‘Regardless of what it said before and immediately after the election, any government taking a consultative rather than a knee-jerk approach is behaving sensibly,’’ Mr Verney said.
Irrespective of the seriousness of a crime, automatic sentencing carried too much risk of unjust and inappropriate outcomes. ‘‘Sentences must reflect community expectations, and all the evidence suggests our judges are already getting it right,’’ he said.
Opposition justice spokeswoman Lara Giddings said it appeared that the government was retreating from its promise.
‘‘What should have been a straightforward election promise to implement has now being sent off to the Sentencing Advisory Committee with no time-line in place for legislation to come before the Parliament,’’ Ms Giddings said.
‘‘Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin is prepared to waste more valuable government resources on consultation she will not accept if the outcome opposes her policy, or she is admitting that she is not confident in her policy and is looking for any excuse to once again backflip on a promise.’’
