❓ Hon. Groenewald questions parole eligibility for child sexual abuse offenders and proposes mandatory sentencing for dangerous sex offenders. The Attorney General's representative rejects mandatory sentencing, citing existing post-sentence management options.
AnsweredQoN 849Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Sentencing—Child
sexual abuse
849. Hon Maryka Groenewald to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Attorney General:
I refer to a recent
report in The West Australian describing
members of a paedophile ring, including one sentenced to 13.5 years in prison
for the production of child exploitation material, another sentenced to four
years for the possession of child abuse material and conspiracy to abuse, and
another sentenced to five years for the possession of drugs intended for use in
child sexual abuse.
(1) Given the severity of these crimes, will these
offenders be eligible for parole?
(2) Will the government commit to implementing
mandatory sentences for dangerous sex offenders?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
sexual abuse
849. Hon Maryka Groenewald to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Attorney General:
I refer to a recent
report in The West Australian describing
members of a paedophile ring, including one sentenced to 13.5 years in prison
for the production of child exploitation material, another sentenced to four
years for the possession of child abuse material and conspiracy to abuse, and
another sentenced to five years for the possession of drugs intended for use in
child sexual abuse.
(1) Given the severity of these crimes, will these
offenders be eligible for parole?
(2) Will the government commit to implementing
mandatory sentences for dangerous sex offenders?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the
question. The answer has been provided to me as such.
(1) Parole eligibility depends on whether the
sentencing court made a parole eligibility order.
(2) No.
(3) Dangerous sex offenders are one cohort of
offenders who may be subject to post-sentence detention or supervision under
the High Risk Serious Offenders Act 2020 or
the Sentence Administration Act 2003 . Such
offenders may be better managed through post-sentence supervision or
post-sentence detention, where appropriate.
question. The answer has been provided to me as such.
(1) Parole eligibility depends on whether the
sentencing court made a parole eligibility order.
(2) No.
(3) Dangerous sex offenders are one cohort of
offenders who may be subject to post-sentence detention or supervision under
the High Risk Serious Offenders Act 2020 or
the Sentence Administration Act 2003 . Such
offenders may be better managed through post-sentence supervision or
post-sentence detention, where appropriate.
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