❓ Opposition Leader Love questions the Premier regarding the release and re-offending of a violent offender, specifically referencing the Danny Hodgson case. The Premier defends the government's actions, citing the independence of the courts and the subsequent re-imprisonment of the offender.
AnsweredQoN 629Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
VIOLENT OFFENDERS —
BAIL AND SUPERVISION ORDER RELEASE
Mr S.A. MILLMAN : Thank you!
Mr R.S. LOVE : Madam Speaker!
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition.
629. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I do not believe the Speaker had
finished her request before the member for Mount Lawley got up.
The SPEAKER : There is a good
reason that you got the call, Leader of the Opposition. It provided
entertainment for idle minds, but I could also see that the public gallery was
quite engaged with the member for Mount Lawley's efforts. Good effort,
member for Mount Lawley; better luck next time!
Mr
R.S. LOVE : Before I ask my
question, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that today is R U OK? Day. I see the Premier is wearing his badge. I must have missed the message
about wearing the badge because I have not been able to find one.
Mr R.H. Cook : I've
got a spare one in my office, member. I will get it for you after questions.
Ms S.E. Winton : Are you okay?
Mr
R.S. LOVE : Well, that is the
question people should be taking the time to ask others today, as it is very
important to look after one another and simply ask those words: are you
okay?
I
refer to the outrageous revelation that Mr Danny Hodgson's attacker,
who was out on bail at the time of that attack, has now been charged with assaulting yet another Western Australian
after being released early on a supervision order.
(1) Why is it
that violent offenders continue to be released early only to go on to reoffend
against innocent Western Australians?
(2) Noting that
the Attorney General called this man a ''hardened criminal'', why
has he not been treated as such in the government's justice system?
(3) Does the Premier accept that his government is now soft
on crime?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
BAIL AND SUPERVISION ORDER RELEASE
Mr S.A. MILLMAN : Thank you!
Mr R.S. LOVE : Madam Speaker!
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition.
629. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I do not believe the Speaker had
finished her request before the member for Mount Lawley got up.
The SPEAKER : There is a good
reason that you got the call, Leader of the Opposition. It provided
entertainment for idle minds, but I could also see that the public gallery was
quite engaged with the member for Mount Lawley's efforts. Good effort,
member for Mount Lawley; better luck next time!
Mr
R.S. LOVE : Before I ask my
question, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that today is R U OK? Day. I see the Premier is wearing his badge. I must have missed the message
about wearing the badge because I have not been able to find one.
Mr R.H. Cook : I've
got a spare one in my office, member. I will get it for you after questions.
Ms S.E. Winton : Are you okay?
Mr
R.S. LOVE : Well, that is the
question people should be taking the time to ask others today, as it is very
important to look after one another and simply ask those words: are you
okay?
I
refer to the outrageous revelation that Mr Danny Hodgson's attacker,
who was out on bail at the time of that attack, has now been charged with assaulting yet another Western Australian
after being released early on a supervision order.
(1) Why is it
that violent offenders continue to be released early only to go on to reoffend
against innocent Western Australians?
(2) Noting that
the Attorney General called this man a ''hardened criminal'', why
has he not been treated as such in the government's justice system?
(3) Does the Premier accept that his government is now soft
on crime?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Do we wish people a happy R U OK? Day? Perhaps I will wish people a proactive R
U OK? Day. I invite everyone to reach out to their friends and neighbours to
ask them this very important question.
(1)–(3) I
know the Attorney General spoke extensively to the media about this matter
earlier today and I entirely agree with him. I think the comments that he made
were absolutely appropriate. We are appalled by the repeated attacks by this
particular offender and saddened that Danny has to relive the trauma that he
experienced as a result of the initial attack. I remind members that this
perpetrator was a juvenile, and so we are all, I think, bound both morally and
legally to make sure that we make our comments in an appropriate context and say that this person was arrested and the police
opposed bail, as we expect them to, but, ultimately, the courts decided
to provide him with bail. The courts are independent. It is not a reflection of
government policy. It is not a matter for the opposition to enter into
political hyperbole; it is simply a fact of life.
Subsequent
to this most recent offending, the Commissioner for Victims of Crime contacted
the Prisoners Review Board, and as a result of that the perpetrator was
put behind bars, as we would expect. That is
as we would like the system to operate. Obviously, the judge made a call. I will
not reflect on whether that was the right or wrong call, but, obviously,
we expect the system to be able to respond by making sure that this person is removed from the streets. In this case, the
Commissioner for Victims of Crime was able to make their opinion heard.
That R U OK? Day badge is from my
office.
Do we wish people a happy R U OK? Day? Perhaps I will wish people a proactive R
U OK? Day. I invite everyone to reach out to their friends and neighbours to
ask them this very important question.
(1)–(3) I
know the Attorney General spoke extensively to the media about this matter
earlier today and I entirely agree with him. I think the comments that he made
were absolutely appropriate. We are appalled by the repeated attacks by this
particular offender and saddened that Danny has to relive the trauma that he
experienced as a result of the initial attack. I remind members that this
perpetrator was a juvenile, and so we are all, I think, bound both morally and
legally to make sure that we make our comments in an appropriate context and say that this person was arrested and the police
opposed bail, as we expect them to, but, ultimately, the courts decided
to provide him with bail. The courts are independent. It is not a reflection of
government policy. It is not a matter for the opposition to enter into
political hyperbole; it is simply a fact of life.
Subsequent
to this most recent offending, the Commissioner for Victims of Crime contacted
the Prisoners Review Board, and as a result of that the perpetrator was
put behind bars, as we would expect. That is
as we would like the system to operate. Obviously, the judge made a call. I will
not reflect on whether that was the right or wrong call, but, obviously,
we expect the system to be able to respond by making sure that this person is removed from the streets. In this case, the
Commissioner for Victims of Crime was able to make their opinion heard.
That R U OK? Day badge is from my
office.
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