The Nationals Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh has welcomed a Victorian Liberal National Coalition policy to crack down on violent crime and assault.
“Coalition Leader Ted Baillieu announced today that a Coalition Government would scrap suspended sentences and home detention,” Mr Walsh said.
“Crime rates in Victoria have skyrocketed under the Brumby Government.
“The latest official crime statistics show that over the past year alone drug offences have risen by 18 per cent in the Swan Hill Police Service Area,” he said
“Clearly the Brumby Government is out of touch with the needs and expectation of Victorians.
“Labor has gone soft on crime and Victorians are paying the price.”
Mr Walsh said across Victoria between 6000 and 7000 suspended sentences were handed out each year.
“The statistics show the Brumby Government’s soft approach towards crime is not working,” he said.
“About 27.5 per cent of the suspended sentences handed out in Victoria are breached.
“Appallingly, in 37.2 per cent of cases where those orders were breached, offenders were released back into the community without serving any real jail time.
“The Brumby Government’s home detention policy has also failed. Since 2004, 425 prisoners have been released into home detention, many before they have served even a minimum sentence.
“People convicted of armed robbery, aggravated burglary or intentionally and recklessly causing injury are eligible for home detention under Labor’s system.
“It is very difficult for residents in Victoria to have faith in a justice system that is failing to hand out sentences to fit the crimes being committed.
“The Coalition’s policy will deliver long overdue legislative reform to address crime rates in the Swan Hill electorate and restore honesty to sentencing.”
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