Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Bill 2007

Wednesday 5^th November 2007

Rev Fred Nile, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has supported the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Bill 2007 in the NSW Legislative Council.

“The Christian Democratic Party supports these miscellaneous amendments to the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Bill 2007. The Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 is the principle Act that governs the administration of sentences. A number of proposed sections in this bill will amend the principal Act. Tonight I commend in particular those proposed sections that provide that while the Department of Corrective Services holds inmates money and uses interest for the benefit of all inmates and their families, it does not hold inmates money under an ordinary trust. I understand that the term "for the benefit of all inmates" means that children's playground equipment could be purchased with those funds.

I commend the proposed section that will enable probation and parole officers to alcohol and drug test offenders under community service orders—an important aspect of this bill. Finally, contrary to the view of Greens, the Christian Democratic Party supports the provision that will enable exempt bodies or persons to write to the Commissioner of Corrective Services to request that mail from a particular inmate not be sent to them if they have received abusive letters from that inmate. In my opinion, letters need not be threatening or abusive, but if they are from an offender who raped someone that person would not want to receive any form of mail from the offender and should have the right to stop it from being mailed”, Rev Fred Nile stated in Parliament.