Countering 'law and order populism'

Wednesday, November 17, 1993 - 11:00

Vannessa Hearman, Melbourne

A coalition of welfare and legal groups launched Operation Smart Justice on September 19. It aims to challenge "law and order populism" in the lead-up to Victoria's November 25 state election.

Anthony Kelly from the Federation of Community Legal Centres said Operation Smart Justice would counter the major political parties' "blatant political spin" on subjects such as crime rates, and promote just alternatives to imprisonment. These include more spending on social services to prevent crime and imprisonment, and diversion programs that avoid imprisonment, particularly for young people.

Cath Smith from the Victorian Council of Social Service launched the 2006 Crime and Imprisonment Data Report, which reveals that Victoria had the lowest rate of recorded crime in Australia.

Victoria also recorded the lowest average daily imprisonment rate for the March quarter this year. The Northern Territory had the highest rate. Nationwide in 2005, Indigenous Australians were 13 times more likely to be imprisoned than other Australians; in Victoria, they were 12 times more likely to be imprisoned.

National expenditure on prisons increased by 22.24% between 2000-2005. While the cost of imprisoning a person in Victoria is around $220 a day, the government spends only $50 per dwelling per day on public housing.

Melbourne University criminology department researcher Ruth Liston spoke about Britain's experience of "anti-social behaviour orders" (ASBOs). Jeanette Purkis, a former prisoner, compared her experiences of being in a state prison with a mental illness and being in a privatised prison, where the regime is much harsher. Father Peter Norden from the Victorian Criminal Justice Coalition also spoke at the launch.

[The Smart Justice campaign is being coordinated by the Federation of Community Legal Centres. Visit <http://www.smartjustice.org.au>. Vannessa Hearman is the Socialist Alliance candidate for Brunswick in the Victorian state election.]