ABC News Mon, 13 Mar 2000 17:18 AEDT Inquiry recommends overturning of mandatory sentencing laws The Senate inquiry into mandatory sentencing has recommmended the laws for juveniles in Western Australia and the Northern Territory be overturned. Committee chair Labor Senator Jim McKiernan, says mandatory sentencing is bad law. "Mandatory sentencing, particularly as practiced in the Northern Territory is a blight on our society and a dark cloud overshadowing our young people," he said. "Mandatory sentencing tarnishes Australia's good name at home and abroad. "Mandatory sentencing demonstrates to all and sundry, the sections of the Australian community, notably the governments of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, have little regard for Australia's national obligations or for our nation's reputation abroad," Sen McKiernan said. The Senate is now debating whether to vote on the private member's bill to overturn the laws. Greens Senator Bob Brown, who drafted the bill, has appealed to government backbenchers in the Lower House to cross the floor and support the bill. "Locking up of kids, not least first Australian kids, against the wishes of the court and the community, is very deeply a matter of conscience for all of us Australians who can read history and who understand the present, and who aspire to a better future," he said. "Now if the Prime Minister can't rise to the occasion on this, and members of his party do, I think they'll be applauded by the nation." UN concern Meanwhile a United Nations Committee has expressed concern that Australia's mandatory sentencing laws apply in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, where the indigenous population is highest. The UN's investigation into mandatory sentencing laws has been done by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the UN's Human Rights Commissioner. The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan commissioned the report after mandatory sentencing was raised during his recent visit to Australia. The report expresses concern about mandatory sentencing of juveniles, particularly in light of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It notes an unjustified and disproportionately high percentage of Aboriginal children in the justice system, and the tendency to normally refuse them bail. It says the operation of mandatory sentencing laws in the two jurisdictions with large indigenous populations has resulted in a high percentage of Aboriginal youths in detention. The UN says mandatory sentencing is a very important human rights issue and all states should give the principles involved the closest attention in both legislation and practice. � 1999 Australian Broadcasting Corporation -- ********************************* 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/
