ALP votes to support mandatory sentencing

The ALP national conference voted on August 3 to withdraw its opposition to Western Australia's mandatory sentencing legislation.

In a deal with the WA branch, the party changed its platform so that mandatory sentencing could apply to adults convicted of “serious property offences”. Previously, Labor had opposed mandatory sentencing of juveniles and those convicted of property offences.

The WA branch supports the state's mandatory sentencing laws, which state Labor leader Geoff Gallop describes as “tough but not unfair”. The WA law requires jail sentences for adults convicted three times of home burglary.

The softening by Labor of its already weak opposition to mandatory sentencing was condemned by community legal services, Aboriginal organisations and civil liberties groups around the country. Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown pointed out in an August 3 statement that Labor's new platform is “on the face of it, similar to John Howard's constricted deal with NT chief minister Burke” on mandatory sentencing.

Brown said that Labor will face its next test in two weeks when he introduces a new bill in the Senate to override mandatory sentencing for all property crimes.

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