Question regarding the scope of mandatory sentencing for assaults against public officers. Premier clarifies it applies to serious assaults causing bodily harm and accuses the opposition of not taking the issue seriously.

AnsweredQoN 220Legislative Assembly
Asked
17 March 2009
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

ASSAULTS AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICERS — MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES
I ask a supplementary question. Has the Premier not now conceded that his so-called mandatory sentencing does not apply to all assaults on police officers? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

It has always been mandatory sentencing for serious assaults causing bodily harm. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them laughing at our police officers! That is what they are doing: they are laughing at them. They are laughing at assaults. They do not take this issue seriously. I will tell members what we are doing: we are taking it seriously, and the policemen and policewomen out there, and the public of Western Australia, are taking it seriously.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: It has always been mandatory sentencing for serious assaults causing bodily harm. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them laughing at our police officers! That is what they are doing: they are laughing at them. They are laughing at assaults. They do not take this issue seriously. I will tell members what we are doing: we are taking it seriously, and the policemen and policewomen out there, and the public of Western Australia, are taking it seriously.
It has always been mandatory sentencing for serious assaults causing bodily harm. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them laughing at our police officers! That is what they are doing: they are laughing at them. They are laughing at assaults. They do not take this issue seriously. I will tell members what we are doing: we are taking it seriously, and the policemen and policewomen out there, and the public of Western Australia, are taking it seriously.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them laughing at our police officers! That is what they are doing: they are laughing at them. They are laughing at assaults. They do not take this issue seriously. I will tell members what we are doing: we are taking it seriously, and the policemen and policewomen out there, and the public of Western Australia, are taking it seriously.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them laughing at our police officers! That is what they are doing: they are laughing at them. They are laughing at assaults. They do not take this issue seriously. I will tell members what we are doing: we are taking it seriously, and the policemen and policewomen out there, and the public of Western Australia, are taking it seriously.

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