Shadow Attorney-General Greg Smith SC has today called on the State Labor Government to toughen up the law on glassing offences, and request the DPP to appeal the community service order that was given to an attacker who glassed a youth with a broken bottle at North Ryde last year. 

"400 hours community service for a malicious glassing attack is just unacceptable and sends the wrong message to the community about the seriousness of these offences," Mr Smith said.

“The State Labor Government need to send the right message that glassing offences will attract severe punishment which will act as a strong deterrent. The Attorney General should urgently press the DPP to appeal the case,” he said.

“Acts of malicious glassing, such as the attack perpetrated on David Macdonald at ‘The Ranch’ Hotel in North Ryde that left him maimed and requiring plastic surgery, are serious offences and the effects of these acts can leave victims maimed, blind and mentally scarred for life."

“That is why such a serious offence should be heard in the District Court before a judge with a larger sentencing range and not dealt with in the local court as a minor matter."

“The Government need to change the law to ensure that these sorts of offences are treated seriously and only dealt with in the District Court."

“But how could we expect Labor to do that when they’re proposing Criminal Infringment Notices and not actually prosecuting criminals?"

“Maybe glassing attacks will be the next offence added to Morris Iemma’s “parking ticket” criminal justice system."

“Labor are determined to funnel as many cases through the Local Courts as possible in order to keep costs down."

“With this sort of ‘cut-price’ justice, Labor are gutting our criminal justice system and leaving victims and the community short-changed,” Mr Smith said.