The Andrews Labor Government was warned last year its weak mandatory minimum sentencing laws would fail emergency workers and see perpetrators walk free.
Last year Daniel Andrews said his so-called mandatory sentencing laws “sent the strongest possible message – if you attack and injure an emergency worker, you will go to jail.”
Labor’s then Attorney-General Martin Pakula said “under these new laws, courts will have to impose a custodial sentence and will not be able to sentence offenders to a community correction order.”
But yesterday James Haberfield was found guilty of brutally assaulting two paramedics yet released on an 18-month community correction order.
Daniel Andrews’ “mandatory” sentencing laws aren’t worth the paper they are written on.
Last year the Liberal Nationals warned that Labor should be removing the loopholes that would allow violent perpetrators to avoid a mandatory jail term for assaulting an emergency services worker.
Labor arrogantly pushed on with its weak law which was yesterday described by Victoria’s ambulance union as a ‘dud’.
Labor also blocked a Liberal Nationals Private Member’s Bill that sought to shut down loopholes that Labor’s weak laws put in place.
Daniel Andrews was warned his lax law would see thugs who bash our emergency services workers walk free but he refused to fix it.
Sadly, those warnings have become reality.
Michael O'Brien MP
Leader of the Opposition