The Sydney Morning Herald Mandatory sentences: Liberal MP warns PM Date: 28/02/2000 By MARGO KINGSTON in Canberra Liberal MP Dr Brendan Nelson has warned the Prime Minister that Coalition MPs opposed to mandatory sentencing of young people will not let the issue slide. Dr Nelson, the Federal MP for Bradfield, said the issue required national leadership and its resolution was fundamental to our national identity. "We need a kind of leadership which has the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader reminding all Australians that as aggrieved as we are at property crimes, mandatory incarceration of people under 18 is wrong," he said. "People in their hearts know that this is wrong ... "This is a sensitive issue for the Prime Minister politically, but it goes to the heart of the sort of society we are and the kind of people we want to be. Like gun control and euthanasia, it will define our values and our beliefs, and is not something that can be left to States and Territories." His case was bolstered yesterday by a letter to Mr Howard from 30 legal academics at 11 universities, which said the laws breached Australia's international human rights commitments, especially its promise that detention of children would be used as "a last resort". Dr Nelson warned that another youth suicide in jail was inevitable unless the Government acted. "If there was to be another tragedy related to mandatory sentencing, that would significantly change the political complexion of the issue - it would be like Port Arthur, and public opinion would rise up against it," he said. MPs opposed to mandatory sentencing will maintain the pressure on Mr Howard to act before the Senate committee report into the laws is released on March 9. Under the Territory's mandatory sentencing laws, children must be jailed for a second property offence, whether it be for stealing a car or a packet of biscuits. Mr Howard, while admitting he opposes mandatory sentencing of children, has refused to concede that the laws are in breach of human rights which the Government must protect under its international commitments. The Government has refused to reveal its legal advice on the issue or even to admit that it has sought advice. Dr Nelson said he was prepared to compromise by supporting a Federal override only of the Territory's law, which was more draconian than the law in Western Australia, and did not require the Government to use its "external affairs" powers, necessary to override a State law. Mr Howard could override the Territory law using the same constitutional power he relied on in the euthanasia debate. The Liberal senators on the sentencing committee, NSW Senators Helen Coonan and Marise Payne, are leaning towards recommending an override only of the Territory law. The Territory's Chief Minister, Mr Denis Burke, has rejected reviewing the law as requested by the Attorney-General, Mr Williams, on behalf of Cabinet, and said he did not care if the United Nations human rights commissioner found rights were being breached. "So what?" he said. "I reckon people are gutless running off to the UN." This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited. -- ********************************* Make the Hunger Site your homepage! http://www.thehungersite.com/index.html ********************************* ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
