What the Tasmanian Liberals will do:

Interact with the judiciary to bring about a matrix to ensure that sentences awarded to people convicted of the serious crimes of rape and sexual assault receive sentences more in line with community expectations.

The Tasmanian Liberals are committed to comprehensive action to address concerns about sentencing of rapists and other sex offenders.

The recently released Law Reform Institute report on sentencing said that the average sentence for rape was about two years and:

“Examining the median sentence for one and two count of rape suggests that sentences have become more lenient.”

It also said:

“The Institute suggests that what is an appropriate sentencing level for rape and other sexual offences is an issue that needs further consideration.”

While the Government is burying its head in the sand on the issue, the Tasmanian Liberals, on the other hand, are committed to addressing it.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will interact with Tasmanian judiciary to bring about a matrix to ensure that sentences awarded to convicted persons are commensurate with the crime committed and more in line with community expectations.

This policy is far more comprehensive than sentences that are more in line with community expectations for rape and sex offences, particularly against children, the elderly and vulnerable Tasmanians. We will ascertain what is an appropriate sentencing level for rape and other sexual offences.