❓ Question on new home invasion laws in WA, focusing on increased penalties for repeat offenders and violent crimes during burglaries. Minister emphasizes community safety and addresses opposition's stance.
AnsweredQoN 108Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE —
HOME INVASION LAWS
108. MR N.W. MORTON to the Minister
for Police:
Today the minister introduced the toughest home invasion laws
in the nation. Could the minister please explain the importance of this
legislation and what the bill does to protect people in their own homes?
HOME INVASION LAWS
108. MR N.W. MORTON to the Minister
for Police:
Today the minister introduced the toughest home invasion laws
in the nation. Could the minister please explain the importance of this
legislation and what the bill does to protect people in their own homes?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Forrestfield for his continued
interest in protecting community safety in Western Australia. Before I start
answering this, I acknowledge —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, we are not dealing with Serco now. I call you to order for
the first time.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Before I answer the question from the member for Forrestfield, I acknowledge
members of the Northern Suburbs Stroke Support Group, in the member for
Wanneroo's electorate, who are in the Speaker's gallery. Thank
you for joining us today.
Today the toughest home invasion legislation in Australia was
introduced into this Parliament. I am very pleased that the legislation will
improve the safety of Western Australians in the community by ensuring that
those people who commit three or more home burglaries in Western Australia will
go to jail.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
For those offenders who choose to breach the sanctity of our homes to
perpetrate a home burglary and then in the course of —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Those people who in the course of a home burglary commit
serious offences, such as violent sexual assault or grievous bodily harm,
against residents of that dwelling will now be subject to a mandatory minimum
term in prison of 75 per cent of the maximum penalty for those offences. For
instance, those offenders who break into a home and then sexually assault the
occupant in the course of a burglary will be given a mandatory minimum term in
jail of 15 years as a result of this legislation. We brought that commitment to
the March 2013 state election because when we listened to what the community
was saying; we learned that it was fed up with houses being broken into and the
consequences being inconsistent with expectations of penalties for repeat home
burglars. Community members said that they were fed up with the sentences that
were being handed out.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the third time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : They were also fed up with the sentences that were being meted
out to those people who were committing violent acts in the sanctity of our
homes, where we have a right to feel safe and secure at night. The sentences
were just not consistent with community expectations, so this legislation will
go some way towards bringing that sentencing regime to where the community had
been telling us they expected it to be. Indeed, they endorsed that policy
document in droves at the March 2013 election. Part of the reason for this is
that in Western Australia we have the second highest estimated rate of victims
of break-ins, at 4 472 per 100 000 households, against a national average of 2 873
per 100 000 households. We also have the second highest estimated rate of
victims of attempted break-ins, at 3 442 per 100 000 households, against a
national average of 2 261. Despite that —
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I think it is really interesting that I am being interjected
upon in respect of this legislation, because those opposite failed to
articulate a policy in this space during the last election campaign. They
failed to articulate a policy; when they were questioned on whether they
supported our mandatory sentencing and our tough home invasion laws during the
election campaign of 2013, what did we get? The member for Midland said, ''I
don't know if we support it or not; I'm not sure if we're
going to support this. It probably won't work anyway.'' We ended
up running a two-week campaign in the media to try to flush the opposition out
and work out whether it was going to support our home invasion laws. Then,
finally, under the pressure of a public debate, the Leader of the Opposition
made the statement, under sufferance, that, yes, the opposition would support
it, but he still said it would not work. We are prepared —
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, bring this to a conclusion, please.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Absolutely, Mr Speaker.
The Liberal–National
government is prepared to make the tough decisions and to bring legislation
forward to this place that has the legislative and penalty frameworks for these
crimes against our householders that are in step with community expectations,
and that is why I am very pleased, just a year out from the election of March
2013, to be bringing that legislation forward to this place so that we can
debate it, bring it through the houses of Parliament, and start to try to have
the penalties and consequences for these crimes against our citizens go some
way towards meeting what the community expects.
interest in protecting community safety in Western Australia. Before I start
answering this, I acknowledge —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, we are not dealing with Serco now. I call you to order for
the first time.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Before I answer the question from the member for Forrestfield, I acknowledge
members of the Northern Suburbs Stroke Support Group, in the member for
Wanneroo's electorate, who are in the Speaker's gallery. Thank
you for joining us today.
Today the toughest home invasion legislation in Australia was
introduced into this Parliament. I am very pleased that the legislation will
improve the safety of Western Australians in the community by ensuring that
those people who commit three or more home burglaries in Western Australia will
go to jail.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
For those offenders who choose to breach the sanctity of our homes to
perpetrate a home burglary and then in the course of —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Those people who in the course of a home burglary commit
serious offences, such as violent sexual assault or grievous bodily harm,
against residents of that dwelling will now be subject to a mandatory minimum
term in prison of 75 per cent of the maximum penalty for those offences. For
instance, those offenders who break into a home and then sexually assault the
occupant in the course of a burglary will be given a mandatory minimum term in
jail of 15 years as a result of this legislation. We brought that commitment to
the March 2013 state election because when we listened to what the community
was saying; we learned that it was fed up with houses being broken into and the
consequences being inconsistent with expectations of penalties for repeat home
burglars. Community members said that they were fed up with the sentences that
were being handed out.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the third time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : They were also fed up with the sentences that were being meted
out to those people who were committing violent acts in the sanctity of our
homes, where we have a right to feel safe and secure at night. The sentences
were just not consistent with community expectations, so this legislation will
go some way towards bringing that sentencing regime to where the community had
been telling us they expected it to be. Indeed, they endorsed that policy
document in droves at the March 2013 election. Part of the reason for this is
that in Western Australia we have the second highest estimated rate of victims
of break-ins, at 4 472 per 100 000 households, against a national average of 2 873
per 100 000 households. We also have the second highest estimated rate of
victims of attempted break-ins, at 3 442 per 100 000 households, against a
national average of 2 261. Despite that —
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I think it is really interesting that I am being interjected
upon in respect of this legislation, because those opposite failed to
articulate a policy in this space during the last election campaign. They
failed to articulate a policy; when they were questioned on whether they
supported our mandatory sentencing and our tough home invasion laws during the
election campaign of 2013, what did we get? The member for Midland said, ''I
don't know if we support it or not; I'm not sure if we're
going to support this. It probably won't work anyway.'' We ended
up running a two-week campaign in the media to try to flush the opposition out
and work out whether it was going to support our home invasion laws. Then,
finally, under the pressure of a public debate, the Leader of the Opposition
made the statement, under sufferance, that, yes, the opposition would support
it, but he still said it would not work. We are prepared —
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, bring this to a conclusion, please.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Absolutely, Mr Speaker.
The Liberal–National
government is prepared to make the tough decisions and to bring legislation
forward to this place that has the legislative and penalty frameworks for these
crimes against our householders that are in step with community expectations,
and that is why I am very pleased, just a year out from the election of March
2013, to be bringing that legislation forward to this place so that we can
debate it, bring it through the houses of Parliament, and start to try to have
the penalties and consequences for these crimes against our citizens go some
way towards meeting what the community expects.
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