Reports today that six teens have been charged under new rock-throwing legislation is welcomed by the NSW Liberal/Nationals, but how many more people would have been charged if the Iemma Government listened earlier, Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith SC said today. 

“It is good to see the Police have been able to use new legislation to crack down on rock-throwers and send a message that these offences won’t be tolerated,” Mr Smith said.

“But the question remains - how many more people could have been charged under these provisions if Labor had have heeded the calls of the NSW Coalition and the community and introduced a specific offence for rock-throwing earlier,” he said.

“Until the introduction of a specific rock-throwing offence, which the NSW Coalition have been calling for for years, the inaction of the NSW Labor Government sent a message to delinquents in the community that there was little chance of detection, and even if caught, the punishments would be slight.

“Today’s charges under the legislation are the first step in combating this dreadful crime, which has caused loss of life or severe injury to the victims and which has plagued our community for too long.

“I have consistently been calling on the Iemma Labor Government to implement a specific offence for rock-throwing, similar to the South Australian provision, but with a far greater maximum penalty, but the calls have fallen on deaf ears.

"Now, in addition to new offences the Iemma Government must undertake a massive education and advertising program to persuade members of the community who may be tempted to throw rocks at vehicles, like the youths that were charged yesterday.

"We must use all our energies to stop this dangerous behaviour, which threatens all of us and our loved ones.

"Rock throwing is a dreadful offence that needs to be stopped.

“Charges under the new legislation send a strong message that these offences won’t be tolerated, but the Iemma Government must do more to educate the community and target young people to ensure safety on our roads," Mr Smith said.