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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 8 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 2513 ..
MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):
place which allowed judges and magistrates, when sentencing people to gaol, to take into account the prevalence of the sorts of offences he was talking about yesterday? In other words, there was a chance of doing exactly what he was saying yesterday - "picking up these criminals and chucking 'em in gaol for it". What did Mr Hargreaves do when he had that Bill in front of him? Of course he voted against it.
Contrast Mr Hargreaves' words with Mr Stanhope's words on 19 May last year. I quote Mr Stanhope:
As a matter of principle it is not appropriate that a particular offender who has committed an offence should have added to the punishment which we as a community seek to impose on that person a measure of punishment which is a response to what other criminals do.
Prevalence, Mr Speaker. Mr Berry at that stage - listen very carefully, Mr Speaker - said:
It is very popular for politicians to beat the old law-and-order drum and say, "We should lock them away and keep them there until they rot".
I am sure Mr Hargreaves and Mr Stanhope will have a few words to say after today's sitting.
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, I noticed that the recently published annual report of a large Canberra community based club contained the following statement on behalf of its community support grants committee:
The Committee is now receiving more and more requests for assistance from local community groups and charities, as previous sources of funding are no longer available. Many members may have considered the provision of welfare to be a Government responsibility, but this appears to be changing.
I also notice a statement from the Smith Family in the Canberra Times this morning. They say they have been unable to meet requests for clothing and blankets this winter from families in need. Chief Minister, in these circumstances, how can you continue to claim to have a caring government?
MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I could not have asked for a better question. Since this Government came to office we have not in any way cut funding to community services, but because we know - - -
Mr Moore: We have increased it.
MS CARNELL: We have increased money in areas like people with - - -
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