House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-11-13 Daily Xml

Contents

Sentencing Act Reform

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:43): My question is to the Attorney-General. When will the Attorney-General or the government introduce its legislation regarding reforming the Sentencing Act, and will it be before the matter of Deboo is finalised by the court?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:43): Again, the Leader of the Opposition raises this question of the Deboo case—a matter currently before the District Court—in relation to sentencing of the offender in a circumstance within the envelope of the fact that Mr Deboo is currently residing in the member for Elder's electorate—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —who is awaiting sentencing—

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Playford!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —later this month. The matters have been traversed in relation to what is happening in that case. There is no clear and present danger, as the Leader of the Opposition falsely outlined to the parliament this morning, as though at any time when he—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir: that accusation can only be made by substantive motion and the Deputy Premier knows that.

The SPEAKER: What was the comment?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I will consider the entirety of the answer. Whilst I will allow a tolerable amount of political argy-bargy, if the member has taken offence I invite him to rise. If not, I ask the Deputy Premier to please keep to the substance of the question, as per the standing order, thank you.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: In support of the Leader of the Opposition's claim that it was necessary to immediately progress his defective bill in relation to sentencing reform, he claimed that at any time the District Court could come in and make a decision on this matter. Well, hello—this person is actually living in the community as we speak, living in the member for Elder's electorate.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: He makes this point as though it's some kind of pressing, imminent danger that needs to be remedied.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: We on this side of the house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left will cease interjecting.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —will progress our law reform in relation to sentencing in an orderly and constructive manner.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: When the Leader of the Opposition wants to stop just doing political stunts and actually make a contribution to fixing up his former government's defective law, I will welcome it.

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition is warned. I call to order the member for Kaurna, and the member for Badcoe is warned for a first time. The Leader of the Opposition has the call, and then the member for Narungga.