❓ Opposition questions the government's refusal to implement mandatory sentencing for assaults on police, citing safety concerns and police support for the bill. The Premier defends the government's approach, highlighting existing legislation and concerns about mandatory sentencing.
AnsweredQoN 308Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ACTS AMENDMENT (ASSAULTS ON POLICE OFFICERS) BILL 2008
Given the number of assaults against police officers, including Matthew Butcher in February, Shane Markham and his partner Christina Johnston in 2006, and the government’s refusal to pass the Acts Amendment (Assaults on Police Officers) Bill 2008 last evening — (1) How can this government advance the ongoing safety of police officers and respect for police authority without implementing minimum mandatory sentencing on those who assault police and cause them bodily harm? (2) With the Commissioner of Police, the Police Union of Workers and police officers all expressing strong support for the opposition bill, why did this government refuse to pass this important piece of legislation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Given the number of assaults against police officers, including Matthew Butcher in February, Shane Markham and his partner Christina Johnston in 2006, and the government’s refusal to pass the Acts Amendment (Assaults on Police Officers) Bill 2008 last evening — (1) How can this government advance the ongoing safety of police officers and respect for police authority without implementing minimum mandatory sentencing on those who assault police and cause them bodily harm? (2) With the Commissioner of Police, the Police Union of Workers and police officers all expressing strong support for the opposition bill, why did this government refuse to pass this important piece of legislation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Murdoch for some notice of this question. I am prepared to be corrected on this, but my recollection is that the police commissioner did not support minimum mandatory sentencing. Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
(1) How can this government advance the ongoing safety of police officers and respect for police authority without implementing minimum mandatory sentencing on those who assault police and cause them bodily harm? (2) With the Commissioner of Police, the Police Union of Workers and police officers all expressing strong support for the opposition bill, why did this government refuse to pass this important piece of legislation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for some notice of this question. I am prepared to be corrected on this, but my recollection is that the police commissioner did not support minimum mandatory sentencing. Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
(2) With the Commissioner of Police, the Police Union of Workers and police officers all expressing strong support for the opposition bill, why did this government refuse to pass this important piece of legislation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for some notice of this question. I am prepared to be corrected on this, but my recollection is that the police commissioner did not support minimum mandatory sentencing. Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for some notice of this question. I am prepared to be corrected on this, but my recollection is that the police commissioner did not support minimum mandatory sentencing. Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
I thank the member for Murdoch for some notice of this question. I am prepared to be corrected on this, but my recollection is that the police commissioner did not support minimum mandatory sentencing. Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
(1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
(1) How can this government advance the ongoing safety of police officers and respect for police authority without implementing minimum mandatory sentencing on those who assault police and cause them bodily harm? (2) With the Commissioner of Police, the Police Union of Workers and police officers all expressing strong support for the opposition bill, why did this government refuse to pass this important piece of legislation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for some notice of this question. I am prepared to be corrected on this, but my recollection is that the police commissioner did not support minimum mandatory sentencing. Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
(2) With the Commissioner of Police, the Police Union of Workers and police officers all expressing strong support for the opposition bill, why did this government refuse to pass this important piece of legislation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for some notice of this question. I am prepared to be corrected on this, but my recollection is that the police commissioner did not support minimum mandatory sentencing. Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for some notice of this question. I am prepared to be corrected on this, but my recollection is that the police commissioner did not support minimum mandatory sentencing. Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
I thank the member for Murdoch for some notice of this question. I am prepared to be corrected on this, but my recollection is that the police commissioner did not support minimum mandatory sentencing. Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr C.C. Porter : There have been various statements from the commissioner on it. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let us clear that up. Is the member for Murdoch saying that the Commissioner for Police does or does not support it? Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr C.C. Porter : Does. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the member sure about that? Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr C.C. Porter : It is our understanding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We can check that. (1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
(1)-(2) First of all, assaults of the kind the member has enunciated in his question are completely and utterly unacceptable. I believe that there has been a legislative response from the government about assaults on public officers—more broadly than on police officers—that deals with this issue. From my point of view, it is disturbing that the very people who insisted upon including what I would call debilitating amendments to the sentencing legislation in the first place are now attacking the government because of the impact of those amendments. I believe we have fashioned a legislative response to this and other issues in relation to law and order and assaulting public officers, which address the issue. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I believe that the signals we have sent to the judiciary are clear and unequivocal. Mandatory sentencing in and of itself creates a lot of problems. I do not think anyone who looked at these issues would deny that. Minimum mandatory sentencing creates considerable issues because of the nature and variety of gravity of the offences. I believe that the collective response that we fashioned on this and other issues related to assaults on people in public places, on public officers and so on addresses the issue well. I hope that that legislative program gets support in the upper house of this Parliament.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.