Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: The Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Standard Minimum Sentencing) Act, which was passed by the Parliament in 2002, created standard minimum sentences for a number of offences. It also created aggravating and mitigating factors that the court must take into account in sentencing. I am comfortable with what that Act outlined. The bill provides for further standard minimum sentences to cover an additional 11 criminal offences, and increases the standard minimum sentence for aggravated indecent assault of a child under 10 years of age, murder and other offences. The bill also introduces eight new aggravating factors that judges must take into account at sentencing. I think the public in general appreciate this and will support it. That is exactly why they support the approaches of people as diverse as Judge Judy and Judge John Deed.

The bill creates a requirement that offenders who seek to rely on remorse as a factor in sentencing must provide evidence that they have accepted responsibility for their behaviour and acknowledged the damage, hurt and impact of the crime on victims, or have shown evidence that they have made reparation for an injury or loss. I support that from a Christian point of view. The teaching of the Bible is that when it comes to remorse or forgiveness it is not what one says that counts but what one does. The bill is part of the Government’s ongoing legal reforms to the sentencing regime in New South Wales. I am committed to ensuring that we are vigilant about the threat to the safety of our citizens. I believe that this bill is in line with what Joe Average in the street believes. Laws need to be under constant review so that our legal framework reflects community views and values, and give the courts the powers they need to keep the community safe. For those reasons I will support the bill.

Thursday, 25th October, 2007, 2:30 pm | Articles