Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-05-08 Daily Xml

Contents

BUSHFIRE ARSON

In reply to the Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (16 October 2007).

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning): The Attorney-General has provided the following information:

Between 1 January, 2003, and 30 September, 2007, there were two convictions under section 85B of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act that resulted in imprisonment for lighting bushfires.

One offender was sentenced in 2005 to 10 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of four years.

The other offender was sentenced in 2007 to 18 months imprisonment on one charge of bushfire arson. The individual also received an 18 month sentence of imprisonment for false representation to Police and a sentence of three years for attempted rape. The offender was set a head sentence of four years and 24 days, taking into account time spent in custody, and the non-parole period was set at 30 months.

The Office of Crime Statistics and Research (OCSAR) publishes one of the most comprehensive sets of crime and justice statistics of any jurisdiction in Australia. With more than 20,000 possible offences, it is not practical to publish separate statistics for every offence. OCSAR is, however, currently reviewing the content of its statistical reports and will consider identifying bushfire arson offences separately in the future. I can assure the honourable member that OCSAR is able to provide statistics for these offences whenever required.\