Finally: Tougher Home Burglary Laws pass Parliament
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After making the promise at the last state election to toughen home burglary laws the Liberal party has at long last delivered something. After spending many months in the upper house, the WA parliament finally passed the legislation. Full press release from Ian Blayney's office follows:
The Liberal National Government has re-affirmed its commitment to making WA communities safer after its tough home invasion and burglary laws passed Parliament last night.
Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said in delivering this election commitment, the toughest penalties in Australia would be imposed for serious home invasion offenders. Mandatory sentencing laws for serial home burglars would also be tightened.
“These tough new laws protect the people targeted for home burglaries and those that are terrorised and attacked during a home invasion,” Mr Blayney said.
“The Liberal National Government promised residents of Geraldton that we would be tough on crime and we have delivered on that commitment today.”
Mr Blayney the legislation mandated minimum jail terms of 75 per cent of the maximum sentence for an adult offender who committed serious physical or sexual assault during a home burglary. This means:
• an offender who breaks into a house and sexually assaults someone will face a minimum of 15 years jail;
• an offender who breaks into a house and physically assaults someone causing serious harm will face a minimum of seven years, six months jail; and
• an offender who breaks into a house and indecently assaults someone will face a minimum of five years, three months jail.
Mr Blayney said the three strike rules would also be tightened to stop offenders being able to have all their offences bundled together as one strike.
“Under the new laws, if an offender has committed three burglaries, on three days that is three strikes and they’re going to jail,” Mr Blayney said
“We know that the majority of home invasions are committed by prolific offenders. To get these offenders off the streets and into a prison cell will help burglary rates decrease.”
Mr Blayney said the Liberal National Government was dedicated to making communities safer through tough laws and by providing police with the resources they needed to combat crime and anti-social behaviour.
