Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith SC today said the State Government’s proposed abolition of periodic detention in favour of so-called ‘community corrections orders’ continued the Iemma Government’s general softening in the area of law and order. 

The proposal came amid news that one in five offenders who had breached their periodic detention orders in the past year were unable to be found. In addition, periodic detention is only available in the metropolitan areas.

“While we welcome the review into periodic detention, the State Government must ensure that any proposal will not be more lenient on criminals,” Mr Smith said.

“The Government should be ensuring that periodic detention orders are replaced by full-time imprisonment, but they won’t do this because ‘community correction orders’ are the cheaper option.

“While the periodic detention system may not be perfect, at least there is some punishment and deterrent value in having to show up to jail for two days a week.

“Crimes such as assault, malicious wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm are serious offences and the State Government must not weaken the sentences of these offenders further.

“Downgrading custodial sentences to ‘community corrections orders’ will only serve to ensure the punishment value of the original sentence is diminished.”

Mr Smith said the proposed changes continued the trend from the Labor Government of softening on law and order, following on from the recent introduction of Criminal Infringement Notices (CINs), which amounted to a slap on the wrist.

“The Iemma Government talks tough on law and order but its actions tell an entirely different story,” Mr Smith said.

“What the Iemma Government calls ‘minor offences’ are in fact real crimes that affect large numbers of citizens.

“The first step from Morris Iemma was to introduce on-the-spot fines for a wide variety of offences such as breaking into cars and shoplifting and now the State Government wants to let criminals off lightly for more serious crimes.

“Instead of letting criminals off the hook, the State Government must ensure the police and justice systems are properly resourced so criminals are effectively punished and deterred from committing crimes in the first place.”