Member for Toowoomba North
Trevor Watts MP
WATTS PROUD OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CRIMINAL CODE BY NEWMAN GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE CRIME
Trevor Watts the Member for Toowoomba North is proud to be part of a Newman Government that is introducing tough changes to the Queensland sentencing laws to protect children and police.
The Newman Government is focused on delivering on their election commitment to get tough on crime and increase penalties within its first 100 days. Cabinet this week approved changes that will see murderers and repeat child sex offenders be jailed for life and be unable to apply for parole for at least 20 years under these tough changes.
“The Criminal Code will be amended to increase penalties for repeat child sex offenders, murder, serious assaults on police and evading police,” Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Jarrod Bleijie said.
“For many years I have been working with the Police and I believe those officers who have sworn to serve and protect deserve the necessary legal protection.
“Many Toowoomba North constituents have contacted my office informing me about law and order concerns. Police Officers who risk their safety and lives day in and day out will now be better protected with the changes in these sentencing laws,” Mr Watts said.
“If an offender kills a police officer carrying out their duties they will serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole and we will increase the maximum penalty for serious assault of a police officer from seven years to fourteen years imprisonment.
“This will relate to offences where the assault results in an injury amounting to bodily harm, and involves spitting, biting or projecting any bodily fluid or where the offender uses a weapon.
“The Government will crack down on child sexual abusers by introducing a ‘two strikes’ policy for repeat offenders who will face mandatory life imprisonment with a 20-year non-parole period,” Mr Bleijie said.
“These tough new penalties will send a very clear message to those offenders that this Government will not tolerate these offences,” Mr Watts said.