mandatory sentencing

• New SA laws threaten rule of law

  22nd Feb 2024

  ‘An appalling and the most egregious attack on the rule of law we have seen in some time’ writes Greg Barns SC, in response to last month’s amendments to the State’s sentencing laws.

• Opportunistic politicians trading in human misery for votes - ALA

  3rd Sep 2012

  “Professional people smugglers aren’t the only occupation trading in human misery in Australia – opportunistic politicians are capitalising on fear and ignorance with a quick easy vote-grab that harshly punishes some of the world’s most vulnerable people,” Australian Lawyers Alliance National President, Tony Kerin, said today.

• ALA welcomes end to mandatory sentencing for people smuggling crews

  25th Aug 2012

  The Australian Lawyers Alliance is welcoming yesterday’s announcement by the Gillard Government of an end to mandatory sentencing for those crewing people smuggling vessels, but says those wrongly sentenced, under such laws, should now have their situations addressed.

• Unjust mandatory sentencing laws jailing vulnerable and marginalised

  17th Aug 2012

  “The jailing of an impoverished Indonesian fisherman in South Australia last Thursday, in what the trial judge labelled as the 'lowest level of involvement' for a people smuggling crime, is highlighting unjust Australian laws that discriminatorily incarcerate people,” Australian Lawyers Alliance National President, Tony Kerin, said today.

• ALA welcomes panel recommendation to increase asylum seeker intake

  13th Aug 2012

  The Australian Lawyers Alliance today welcomed an expert panel decision to increase the intake of asylum seekers into Australia, but is concerned about a recommendation for offshore processing in countries that can not guarantee the health and welfare of asylum seekers.

• Mandatory sentencing laws for people smuggling crews unfair - ALA

  3rd Aug 2012

  “Organisers behind people smuggling stand to make windfall profits from each boat, however the skippers and crews of these vessels are often just additional victims of this trade in human misery,” Australian Lawyers Alliance Northern Territory spokesman, Greg Phelps, said today.

• ALA urges Qld election not to be another law and order auction

  17th Feb 2012

  Australian Lawyers Alliance National President, Greg Barns, today urged all major parties in the forth-coming Queensland state election to steer clear of a law and order auction.