❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett about the Minister for Corrective Services linking real estate values to the release of a dangerous sex offender. Barnett denies the connection and defends the judicial process.
AnsweredQoN 859Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DANGEROUS SEXUAL OFFENDERS ACT — REVIEW —
AMENDMENTS
859. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
As a supplementary question, does
the Premier agree with the Minister for Corrective Services, who today on radio
cited falling real estate values as a reason to avoid talking about the bungled
Alwyn Wayne Brown release?
AMENDMENTS
859. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
As a supplementary question, does
the Premier agree with the Minister for Corrective Services, who today on radio
cited falling real estate values as a reason to avoid talking about the bungled
Alwyn Wayne Brown release?
AnswerView source ↗
I did not hear those comments, but I
would not have thought real estate values had anything to do with drafting the
legislation or with the judicial process that relates to the release of a
dangerous sex offender.
Mr
M. McGowan : That wasn't what my question was.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition asked the question.
Mr
M. McGowan : Is that a reason that you shouldn't talk about it?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I did not hear his comments and I do not think there is any
relationship between property prices and the release by a Supreme Court judge
of a dangerous sex offender.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Can I make the point that this government is serious about
protecting the public, but dangerous sex offenders —
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Butler, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The reality is that once a dangerous sex offender has
completed their sentence, they will be released and therefore the emphasis has
to be on —
Mr
M. McGowan : Not necessarily.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The judge has made a decision.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Supreme Court judge made the decision and attached some
51 conditions to that. That is the judicial process. I am not pleased that he
has been released, but that is what will happen. Dangerous sex offenders do
eventually get released from prison.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : People might say, ''Throw away the key'' and
all the rest of it. We cannot do that, according to the Australian
Constitution; it is a simple fact.
would not have thought real estate values had anything to do with drafting the
legislation or with the judicial process that relates to the release of a
dangerous sex offender.
Mr
M. McGowan : That wasn't what my question was.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition asked the question.
Mr
M. McGowan : Is that a reason that you shouldn't talk about it?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I did not hear his comments and I do not think there is any
relationship between property prices and the release by a Supreme Court judge
of a dangerous sex offender.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Can I make the point that this government is serious about
protecting the public, but dangerous sex offenders —
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Butler, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The reality is that once a dangerous sex offender has
completed their sentence, they will be released and therefore the emphasis has
to be on —
Mr
M. McGowan : Not necessarily.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The judge has made a decision.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Supreme Court judge made the decision and attached some
51 conditions to that. That is the judicial process. I am not pleased that he
has been released, but that is what will happen. Dangerous sex offenders do
eventually get released from prison.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : People might say, ''Throw away the key'' and
all the rest of it. We cannot do that, according to the Australian
Constitution; it is a simple fact.
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