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June 29, 2025 2 mins

The government's so-called crackdown on crime is more than just tough talk but that doesn't mean it'll make much difference to crime. 

That's not for want of trying. It's because the Courts are a law unto themselves. 

They apply sentencing discounts like they're Briscoes Sales - 90% off for remorse. 10% of for your family report. You're free to leave the dock with time served on that murder charge! We look forward to welcoming you back to Court again soon! 

We all know the story - Covid lockdowns happened, communities fell apart, lives were thrown off kilter, crime spreads. Police HQ, the Courts and the government went softer on crime. Wraparound services trumped a good ol' whack around the back of the ears. 

The authorities lost control of the streets. We lost faith in the authorities. And now here we are, having elected a government to do something about. 

Couple of their new laws come into force yesterday - including caps on sentencing and new aggravating factors. 

These are real changes. Not just rhetoric. But... whether they actually make a difference or not will depend on whether the Courts get the message - they're the ones with the real power here. 

Look no further than the current aggravating factors they're not using properly.... assaulting a first responder, ambulance paramedic, ought to get you a tougher sentence. 

But, the ambulance staff and first responders say it's fallen by the wayside. The Courts weren't focussed on that when making decisions. 

They have a lot of leeway and a lot to weigh up.

So now the government's had to step in again to extend and expand this provision to include more first responders and up the penalties. 

Assaulting a first responder with intent to injure could get you up to seven years. 

BUT is just like the ads you see on TV selling TVs and Sofas - up to 80% store-wide is not the same as 80% store-wide. 

There's big enough leeway to drive a truck through... and enough to ensure the application of this law may not match is intentions. 

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The government's so called crackdown on crime is more than
just tough talk. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's going
to make a difference. Not for want of trying. It's
because the courts are a law unto themselves. They apply
sentencing discounts like a Brisco's sale. Judges are like the
Briscoes lady, ninety percent off for remorse, ten percent off

(00:22):
for your family report. You're free to leave the dock
with time served. Don't worry it. If it's a murder
charge off, you go. Good on your son. We look
forward to welcoming you back to court again soon. I
mean you feel like there's unless must be a sign
and a cup of coffee when you leave. And we
all know the story. COVID lockdowns happened, Communities fell apart,
lives thrown off kilter, crime spreads, police hq the courts.

(00:44):
The government went softer on crime. Wrap around services trumped
a good old whack around the back of the years.
The authorities lost control of the streets, We lost faith
in the authorities, and now here we are, having elected
a government to do something about it. Couple of their
new laws into force yesterday, including caps on sentencing and
new aggravating factors. These are real changes, not just rhetoric,

(01:07):
but whether they actually make a difference or not will
depend on whether the courts get the message. They're the
ones with the real power here. Look no further than
the current aggravating factors that they're not using properly, including assault,
its assaults on first responders. You know, your ambulance, your paramedics,
your cops. The government is stepping in to fix this,

(01:30):
even though it shouldn't need fixing. It's already an aggravating
factor in sentencing, but the ambulance staff and the first
responders say it's basically fallen by the wayside. The courts
weren't focused on them when making decisions, even though they're
the victims, and even though they're the first responders. Courts

(01:51):
have a lot of leeway here. So now the government
is stepping in again to extend and expand this provision
to make it even tougher. Hope filly fingers crossed this
time we might actually see some movement from the courts
following the direction they've been set by Parliament. But it's
just like those as you see on TV selling sofas

(02:14):
up to eighty percent off stare wide is not the
same as eighty percent off store white, is it. And
there's big enough leeway here to drive a truck through
when it comes to the courts and tough on crime.
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