The NSW Nationals and Liberals will crack down on criminals and make communities safer by introducing new Adult Crime, Adult Time laws within the first 100 days of Government.
The reforms would ensure young people who commit serious adult crimes face serious consequences, with the list of serious children’s indictable offences expanded so maximum adult sentences can apply to additional serious crimes.
The Coalition will also introduce guideline sentencing and new sentencing principles to ensure detention is not treated as a last resort in serious cases, particularly where an offender is facing multiple sentences.
Greater weight will also be given to the impact of offending on victims, rather than the age of the offender alone.
The Coalition will also double funding for the Community Safety Investment Fund to $10 million and expand diversion, school suspension and post-detention rehabilitation programs to help put young people back on the right track.
Member for Oxley Michael Kemp said the reforms recognised that serious crimes require serious consequences, while also addressing the causes of youth offending.
“Our community has had enough. Serious crimes need serious consequences, and under Labor we simply haven’t seen the action needed to keep people safe,” Mr Kemp said.
“We can’t keep having victims pick up the pieces while offenders walk away with consequences that don’t match the seriousness of what they’ve done. The safety of victims and the wider community has to come first.
“Being tough on crime doesn’t mean giving up on young people. We need to intervene early, address the causes of offending and give young people a genuine chance to get back on the right track.”
Mr Kemp recently launched a community petition calling on the NSW Government to expand its PolAir-Remote drone program and consider the Mid North Coast as one of the next locations for the program.
“Giving police stronger laws is one part of the equation, but we also need to give them the tools to do their job safely and effectively,” Mr Kemp said.
“Our communities are spread across a huge area, and a remotely operated drone could give police an extra set of eyes in the sky when they need them.
“Every time we can avoid a dangerous pursuit or give police better information before they put themselves in harm’s way, that is a win for our officers and the community.
“I’ll keep pushing for the laws and the practical resources we need to make our communities safer