PRESS RELEASE
AUSTRALIANS AGAINST MANDATORY SENTENCING
EXCLUSIVE TO ABC RADIO
Release at convenience.
Australians Against Mandatory Sentencing are an internet based
group of people who have come together as a result of the
sentencing of a homeless Darwin man to a year's jail for a
minor offence under the Northern Territory's mandatory
sentencing legislation. They have no political party
affiliation.
FIRST RESORT JAIL PACKAGE
Last week Australians Against Mandatory Sentencing launched
their initial internet based campaign to alert tourists
thinking about travelling to Darwin during the Olympic Games
about the risks the may face in coming to the Northern
Territory.
They have suggested that intending visitors to the Northern
Territory use the internet to contact the Northern Territory
Tourist Commission for more information about the laws which
make jail a first resort rather, than a last resort, for
trival offenses against property.
They have suggested that there should be a warning notice
placed on the Northern Territory Tourist Commission's website
about both the legislation and the health problems which
visitors will face should they find themselves in jail for a
minor offence. These health risks include AIDS; Hepatitis C;
threats of violence; depression and possible suicidal
tendencies.
The Tourist Commission has been referring messages about its
"First Resort Jail Package" to the General Manager Corporate
Communications, who in turn has referred the matter to the
Chief Minister, Denis Burke's, Office.
Australians Against Mandatory Sentencing spokesperson Bruce
Reyburn, who lived in the Northern Territory for many years,
has said "You don't have to be a Lionel Murphy Scholar to know
that these laws are wrong. Chief Minister Burke has failed to
lead the Territory out of the Stone-Age mentality of the
former Chief Minister. The problems in the Northern Territory
are not those caused by disadvantaged and homeless people but
by 25 years of poor management by government. Our campaign is
a wake-up call so that the common sense of good Territorians
will once again prevail and be reflected in its laws."
Australian's Against Mandatory Sentencing will continue its
internet campaign until the first resort jail laws are
repealed and common sense returns to Territory legislation and
life.
(ends)
Contact Bruce Reyburn on mobile deleted
Email contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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