2025-02-04
Lines attributable to Shane Rattenbury, Leader of the ACT Greens:
“The consideration of issues around sentencing and the law reform should be entrusted to experts and community members who base their decisions on substantial evidence and consultation, rather than ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric.
“Last term, Labor tried their hardest to undermine the evidence-based work of the Law Reform & Sentencing Advisory Council. Now it seems, they are finishing the job by dismantling it altogether.
“Before it was disbanded by the new Attorney General, the Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council was made up of people with deep roots in our community, from police, academics, First Nations people, victims advocates, lawyers and more.
"Now this Assembly committee inquiry set up by the Independents for Canberra and the Labor Party is just going to replace the hard work of these community members with political exposition and hot air.
“Let me be clear, a committee inquiry into bail and sentencing run by politicians is not a real substitute for an evidence-based advisory body.
“All a political inquiry is going to deliver is politics.
“Now that sentencing law reform is purely in the hands of politicians, we can expect more 'tough on crime' rhetoric aimed at longer sentences and more restrictive bail approaches, rather than responding to evidence-based approaches that encourage rehabilitation."