Page 2262 - Week 06 - Thursday, 6 June 2019
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reduction in sentences of imprisonment over a two-year period generated savings of $1.2 million compared with traditional sentencing courts.
It is important to understand that this initiative is not about diminishing responsibility for crimes. People who seek this program will have to take responsibility for their crime and work very hard to address the dependencies that cause their offending. The goal is to both hold individuals accountable for their crimes and also serve the interests of the whole community by reducing recidivism. The evidence is clear that a well-developed drug and alcohol sentencing program will protect our community while strengthening individual people and families in the process.
This bill sets out a framework that ultimately will be implemented by the dedicated people who staff our courts, our criminal justice and corrective systems, and our government and community health services. That work is ongoing, and the text of this legislation is being matched by the funding and support that those services need to achieve a successful drug and alcohol court. The government will keep working collaboratively with everyone involved to ensure that by the end of this year we have a functioning court that delivers tangible results for this community.
This government has ambitious commitments to reduce recidivism, to improve our justice system and to help make Canberra even safer. As Attorney-General I have a responsibility to ensure that our courts are working in concert with the rest of our community to achieve our shared goals. This bill represents a foundation for collaborating across justice, health and community services to restore the ability of people with addictions to participate in society and to protect Canberra by reducing crime. In creating this new drug and alcohol court, and across the diverse range of services that we deliver, this government is and will remain people focused and progressive.
I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Hanson) adjourned to the next sitting.
Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2019
Mr Rattenbury, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety and Minister for Mental Health) (4.28): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I am pleased to introduce the Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2019. The bill makes a number of minor amendments to the territory’s road transport legislation to improve road safety and the administration and enforcement of the legislation.
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