❓ Opposition asks the Premier about actions taken regarding a child sex offender released on bail who allegedly committed another offence. The Premier deflects, citing the ongoing court case and separation of powers, suggesting the Attorney General is a more appropriate respondent.
AnsweredQoN 814Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SEXUAL ASSAULT AGAINST CHILDREN — PERPETRATOR BAIL CONDITIONS
In the hope of an answer today, I return again to the distressing case of the four-year-old Broome girl who was allegedly raped by a man bailed only six weeks earlier on child sex offences. I again ask — (1) What actions did your government take to ensure that the bail conditions set by the judge for this offender were properly enforced? (2) Does the Premier support the release on bail of offenders charged with serious child sex offences? (3) Will your government now commit to changing the law to ensure that those charged with serious child sex offences are not eligible for bail? Mr C.J. BARNETT
In the hope of an answer today, I return again to the distressing case of the four-year-old Broome girl who was allegedly raped by a man bailed only six weeks earlier on child sex offences. I again ask — (1) What actions did your government take to ensure that the bail conditions set by the judge for this offender were properly enforced? (2) Does the Premier support the release on bail of offenders charged with serious child sex offences? (3) Will your government now commit to changing the law to ensure that those charged with serious child sex offences are not eligible for bail? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
(1) What actions did your government take to ensure that the bail conditions set by the judge for this offender were properly enforced? (2) Does the Premier support the release on bail of offenders charged with serious child sex offences? (3) Will your government now commit to changing the law to ensure that those charged with serious child sex offences are not eligible for bail? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
(2) Does the Premier support the release on bail of offenders charged with serious child sex offences? (3) Will your government now commit to changing the law to ensure that those charged with serious child sex offences are not eligible for bail? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
(3) Will your government now commit to changing the law to ensure that those charged with serious child sex offences are not eligible for bail? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
(1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
(1) What actions did your government take to ensure that the bail conditions set by the judge for this offender were properly enforced? (2) Does the Premier support the release on bail of offenders charged with serious child sex offences? (3) Will your government now commit to changing the law to ensure that those charged with serious child sex offences are not eligible for bail? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
(2) Does the Premier support the release on bail of offenders charged with serious child sex offences? (3) Will your government now commit to changing the law to ensure that those charged with serious child sex offences are not eligible for bail? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
(3) Will your government now commit to changing the law to ensure that those charged with serious child sex offences are not eligible for bail? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
(1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition asked me this question yesterday, and he has re-asked it. He would probably have done better had he addressed the question to the Attorney General, because this case is before the courts at present—I think the Leader of the Opposition is conscious of that. It is a tragic situation, as it appears that an individual on parole committed an offence against a very young girl in Broome. However, it is before the courts and there is a separation of powers between the courts and the government. Parole was granted, the person was out of prison. The issue is, was he properly monitored according to his parole conditions? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is really what I am asking. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is no doubt something that will be properly looked at. However, I am constrained in what I can say. Like all members in this house, I am very concerned that a person who is on parole committed a very serious offence, but it is before the courts and it is inappropriate for me to comment. Had the Leader of the Opposition wanted more information on some of the legalities of the issue it would have been far better to address the question to the Attorney General.
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