[recoznet2] Bob Brown's Mandatory Sentencing Bill
I have just sent an email of support to Bob Brown and an email supporting Bob Brown to each member of the house of reps. The email to the house of reps could have been better (i.e. it could have actually urged them to do something, but I did express my support for the bill, so I hope that'll count for something). In case anyone's interested, here they are. Hopefully everyone else can send similar emails...??? EMAIL TO BOB BROWN: Dear Mr Brown, I can't begin to express how happy and proud I am that you are taking a stand against mandatory sentencing. I won't take up a lot of your time, but I want to let you know that a lot of people think you are doing the right thing, and it will be remembered. Is there anything we can do? EMAIL TO EACH MEMBER OF HOUSE OF REPS: Dear Member of Parliament, I am very concerned about the damage being done to Northern Territory Aboriginal culture as a result of that territory's mandatory sentencing laws. Further, I am concerned about the "Big Brother" philosophy underpinning these laws. What will be the next step? I am glad to see that someone is finally standing up for what is right. Instead of following the "Commit the crime, do the time" slogan, the NT government should be following the "Punishment to fit the crime" philosophy... and as recommended in the RCADIC, only as a last resort. Imprisonment is hardly a form of rehabilitation. The first step towards a forward-thinking country is a country without mandatory sentencing laws; where judges are able to exercise their discretion when deciding how best to reform offenders. HOUSE OF REPS EMAIL ADDRESSES (IN USEABLE FORMAT)... thanks to Trudy [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Glenn Murray --- 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
[recoznet2] Another miscarriage of justice in NT
Below is an article on the front page of the SMH. If any recoznetter has not yet written the letter to the NTTC [EMAIL PROTECTED] urging them to warn tourists of the laws in the NT and to urge the government to repeal the law, now is the time to do it! Trudy ^^^ SMH The boy condemned to jail for stealing $3.50 biscuits Date: 25/08/99 By BERNARD LAGAN An Aboriginal youth charged with stealing a $3.50 packet of biscuits is doomed to be jailed next week for a year - too soon to be saved by a Federal push to overturn the Northern Territory's mandatory sentencing laws. Darwin legal sources confirmed last night that the 17-year-old would have to be sentenced to a minimum one year's jail when his case came before a court because the theft was his third minor property offence. In the Territory, 17-year-olds are classed as adults - and it has mandatory jail terms for all adult property offences, beginning with a two-week term for a first offence. Yesterday, Federal politicians announced a campaign to end the right of States and Territories to impose mandatory terms on juveniles. Supported by Labor, the Democrats and Independent MP Mr Peter Andren, Tasmanian Green Senator Bob Brown will introduce a bill that would overturn existing laws in the Territory and Western Australia. It would also raise the adult age to 18 - in line with most States - to protect young offenders like the youth facing jail in Darwin. Juveniles in the Territory - those aged either 15 or 16 years - receive a warning for their first property offence and a minimum one-month term in an institution for a second offence. Scores of juvenile Aborigines have received mandatory terms since the laws were passed last year, including one who stole a $2.50 cigarette lighter and four jointly charged with the theft of $1.60 worth of petrol. There have been confidential expressions of support for Senator Brown's bill from some Government MPs, according to the Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Chris Sidoti, who appeared at a Canberra press conference with the senator yesterday. "It is an initiative of the Commonwealth Parliament to exercise its ultimate responsibility to protect the rights of all Australians and, in this instance, among the most vulnerable Australians, children," Mr Sidoti said. Senator Brown said the legislation would be debated in the new year. He said Aborigines, with a high incidence of minor property offences, were six to eight times more likely to be jailed than non-Aborigines under the laws. It has forced the transportation of Aboriginal prisoners for 1,500 kilometres to jail in Alice Springs because Darwin jails are full. But the laws affect not only juveniles. A 29-year-old homeless Aborigine who stole a $15 towel - his third minor property offence - was jailed for a year. Jailed for two weeks were a 24-year-old mother who stole a $2.50 can of beer, and a 27-year-old white teacher who disputed the quality of a hotdog and poured water over a shop till. This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited. --- 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/
