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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-04-30 Daily Xml
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CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (PAROLE NO. 2) AMENDMENT BILL

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (10:32): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Correctional Services Act 1982. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (10:33): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I advise the house that this is a very simple bill. It is one of three that I am introducing today to do, generally, with arson or bushfire. What this bill does is cancel automatic parole for those people convicted of arson offences who are serving less than five years. Currently, there is an automatic parole provision for people serving less than five years, generally. This bill provides that if you have been convicted of arson you should not receive automatic parole, you should have to go before the Parole Board and argue a case.

It is a very simple measure. I think we need to send the strongest possible message to the community, and to arsonists, that the act of arson is not acceptable. I note that the Premier is on the record as saying that arsonists are the equivalent of terrorists. If the Premier is sincere in that belief then you would have argue why you would give convicted terrorists sentenced to less than five years automatic parole.

What this bill does is simply provide that if you are convicted of arson then you would have to go before the appropriate authority and argue your case in relation to getting parole. It is a very simple bill. I do not need to hold the house any further, but I look forward, hopefully, to government and house support when it comes to the vote in future weeks.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mrs Geraghty.

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