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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2434 ..
MR SMYTH: Their personal circumstances will vary greatly, but sadly one of the most significant facts is that around 70 per cent of them will be dealt with for repeat offences.
Mr Stanhope
: Just imagine that: next Assembly we'll have both Harold Hird and Dave Rugendyke back.MR SMYTH
: The fact that committing offences becomes a habit of life gives these offenders a lifetime status separated from the mainstream-Mrs Dunne
: Mr Speaker-MR SPEAKER
: Mrs Dunne, do you have a point of order?Mrs Dunne
: Mr Speaker, I really think it's intolerable that the Chief Minister should interject like this when someone's presenting a bill. This is an important matter. If he doesn't think it's important he can absent himself from the place, but he should be quiet.MR SPEAKER
: It's out of order to interject, members.Mr Quinlan
: As long as we're consistent.Mr Stanhope
: Heaven forbid!Mr Quinlan
: We've seen some double standards over there already.MR SPEAKER
: I will order Mr Smyth to sit down until we have a little bit of silence in the place, because it is unfair on members that are introducing legislation. Mr Smyth has the call.MR SMYTH
: Mr Speaker, the fact that committing offences becomes a habit of life gives these offenders a lifetime status separated from the mainstream community and its social bonds. In dealing with offenders, some of them for crimes of violence, one of our first reactions must be to protect the community from harm. We also use our corrections system to apply just punishment and to satisfy community demands. We also assume that the system acts as a deterrent to future crimes.Clearly the rate of repeat offences indicates that this does not well and truly work in practice. That is why all enlightened jurisdictions are endeavouring to find means of changing the behaviour of offenders for the better through various forms of rehabilitation.
The concept at work here is a simple one. I'm sure that members understand it. It's now time that we as a society tackle the issue of corrections and rehabilitation. What we need to do is balance the need for punishment against the need to rehabilitate the offender. Ultimately society will be safer if criminals cease reoffending.
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