Labor can’t hide its failure on policing and soft sentencing

Labor’s announcement that it is considering introducing “hate crime” laws cannot cover up John Brumby’s failure to put more police on the streets and ensure sentences for all violent crime are tough enough.

“The best thing the Brumby Government can do to protect both visitors and Victorians is to ensure our streets are safe for everyone, and that means more police on the street and tougher sentences,” Shadow Attorney-General Robert Clark said today.

“It’s no use having new laws if violent criminals aren’t being caught in the first place because there aren’t enough police on the street.

“Courts can already take into account motivation and hatred in sentencing an offender – the problem is that sentences for violent crime aren’t tough enough across the board.

“At the moment the most violent offenders aren’t even sent to jail, and even if you’re found guilty of causing serious injury, more than 80 per cent of offenders spend two years or less in jail.

“Two of the offenders who took part in a bashing that led to the death of a young Chinese university lecturer last year were sentenced to just over two years in a youth training centre.

“The government should be looking at laws that will send a clear message to the courts that the community expects much tougher penalties to apply for all violent street crime.

“The Coalition will make a decision on any proposed Brumby government legislation when we see it, but Victorians desperately need more police on the street and tougher penalties for violent attacks on any member of the community, regardless of their race, religion or background,” Mr Clark said.