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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Populist attempt to gain votes

 

We have received election material from Marie Andrews, ALP's MP for Peats.

Whatever the personal qualities of Ms Andrews, the material sent represents the policy of the NSW ALP and it has "law and order" written all over it.

Minimum sentences, on average, will be doubled as compared to average sentences in the period 1994-2001 and two new offences, with very heavy minimum sentences, have been introduced.

Perhaps 19-year-old males, who lose their head sexually, can now be expected to go to jail for up to100 years instead of 55 and 32.

The ALP has now lost its way completely with this opportunistic, populist attempt to gain votes.

How will the Carr Government address the causes of crime and drug problems in our society?

All the research in this field, overwhelmingly, shows that heavier sentences do not deter criminals and wrong-doers.

Addressing causes does.

My primary vote will go to progressive minor parties or an Independent.

They provide the only real opposition to the two-party tyranny Australia's electoral system has inflicted on this society.

Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach