CLP vows return to mandatory sentencing

The Northern Territory's Country Liberal Party has put the controversial issue of mandatory sentencing back on its election agenda.

Opposition leader Denis Burke says Territorians have told him they are sick of crime issues, public drunkeness and itinerants begging for money.

The controversial mandatory sentencing law introduced by the CLP in 1997 was dropped by the Labor Government after it won office in 2001.

But Mr Burke says if he wins the next election, he will reintroduce mandatory sentencing.

"Everywhere I go, and our candidates when they're door-knocking, what we're told is that people have had enough," he said.

"They've had enough of drunks, they've had enough of itinerants, they've had enough of gangs that are now taking over our public places. They feel threatened."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sun, 20 March 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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