Page 3874 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 15 December 1992

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We have made a move which I think will be welcomed. The industry knows that this Government is committed to the racing industry. We have moved to establish a principal club status for the ACT gallops and as part of that proposal we have to show our legislative commitment to providing our own regulations in the Territory. That is all part of this package. This is a kick forward for racing in the ACT. I am sure it is a move forward that will be welcome as a package and one which will benefit the people of the ACT and the industry as well.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

CORRECTIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT - GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Ministerial Statement

MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (3.41): I ask for leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement on the Government's response to the report of the Corrections Review Committee, Paying the Price, and to table that response.

Leave granted.

Mr Kaine: Finally, you come back with a reply.

MR CONNOLLY: This, presumably, is slow-slow, as opposed to the previous one, which was fast-fast. The Corrections Review Committee report Paying the Price has been the subject of extensive community consultation since it was released on 5 February 1992. Almost 500 copies of the report were circulated to individuals and community groups and a series of public seminars were held to seek public comment.

The Government's response to the report, which I just tabled, reflects the careful consideration that has been given to the report's recommendations. I do not intend to go into the detail of the Government's response, but I would like to outline the Government's broad approach. The Government intends to progressively implement a wide range of corrections reforms that focus on adult corrections. The few recommendations that relate to juvenile justice are mostly covered with the major development in train for the Quamby Youth Centre.

The Government plans to introduce a wider range of community based sentencing options with sanctions that range from simple reporting requirements to intensive supervision, which incorporate, as appropriate, punitive, reparative and rehabilitative measures. This will enable sentencers to impose an appropriate flexible sentence tailored to the needs of the individual offender. The reforms contained in this response have been designed to complement other current Government initiatives in the criminal justice system and in the treatment of mentally ill offenders. They will also show the Government's firm support for implementation of relevant recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. An essential part of this plan is the preparation of a new comprehensive legislative package that replaces existing legislation related to sentencing and corrections programs.


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