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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 3 Hansard (6 March) . . Page.. 612 ..

MR STANHOPE: This is about reviews and the need for reviews. That is what I was talking about on Richard Pernot's show this morning. I was talking about that very review, and the fact that neither the Leader of the Opposition nor Mrs Dunne wanted a review into the basis on which we actually receive our cars here. Thanks for reminding me of that, Mr Smyth. (Extension of time granted.) As I say the government will not be supporting this particular motion.

Mr Smyth: You have to listen to your Speaker. He is actually on your side.

MR SPEAKER: I am on your side too, Mr Smyth.

MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Smyth, for raising the issue of the review which I have asked for in relation to members' cars, and for raising the reason that I ask for a submission to be made to the Remuneration Tribunal in relation to that matter.

MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, relevance please.

MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will just conclude. I have asked the department to look at a whole range of issues related to sentencing. I think there are some very significant issues that we do need to look at. I think we do need to look at the extent to which we use diversionary or restorative justice programs, and consider that there are other non-custodial sentencing options available in the ACT. We also need to have a look at the assessment of sentencing options and programs for offenders, particularly if they are chronically ill, if they have a substance abuse problem, if they have a mental illness, or if they are indigenous people.

Of course, we all know that we can actually name those groups of people within our community who are significantly and seriously overrepresented in our jails. They include people with a substance abuse problem: 60 to 70 per cent of people within our prisons have a substance abuse problem, or are involved otherwise in criminal activity associated with drugs.

We know how many people within our criminal justice system have mental health requirements. We know how many people within our criminal justice system are indigenous. There are a whole range of indicators, and it is appropriate that we look at the factors that lead to them being incarcerated. In their interests, in the interests of the community, and in the interests of the taxpayer, we should be looking at those kinds of issues. I have therefore asked the department to look broadly at sentencing options, other possibilities for diversion, issues in relation to ensuring that we have genuine restorative justice programs, and issues concerned with keeping people out of jail in the first instance.

As part of that general review, of course, we will also look at the sorts of issues that the shadow Attorney has mentioned. We are already doing it. We have already announced that we will be reviewing the whole range of sentencing options. Of course, we will have a look at the sorts of issues that the shadow Attorney has raised in relation to sentencing guidelines.

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