Domestic Violence

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:16): Supplementary: is the Attorney satisfied with a three-year head sentence, three years actually time served, for stabbing a woman multiple times and nearly killing her?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:16): Again, I thank the honourable member for his invitation to comment on what the court has decided within the bounds of the range of penalties that we set down as a parliament. Firstly, I am not aware of the individual case, and even if I was I have resisted the invitations previously to pass commentary on matters where judges have heard all of the evidence that has been presented and the arguments that have been put forward by the prosecution and defence. I know the honourable member has, as we all do and as I particularly do, an interest in keeping the community as safe as possible. I am not going to start a habit of commenting on an individual case and the sentence.