Opposition juvenile justice policy in tatters

23/11/93

Attorney General Cheryl Edwardes says the State Opposition's policy on juvenile justice is in tatters.

Mrs Edwardes said Opposition members were regularly contradicting each other in their comments on the Crime (Serious and Repeat Offenders) Sentencing Act.

"David Smith clearly indicated today that the Opposition would oppose the Government's very sensible amendments to the legislation," Mrs Edwardes said.

"Yet both Carmen Lawrence and Nick Catania have acknowledged in the past that loopholes exist in the legislation and have said they were 'generally supportive' of the Government's stance.

"Mr Catania even told Parliament on June 30 - when challenged by me - that he would support the amendments.

"Now David Smith has pushed the Opposition in a totally different direction.

"The Labor Party is clearly divided on its approach to juvenile justice and has been from the outset.

"They simply do not understand the issue and how it is affecting the community.

"Carmen Lawrence, who introduced the legislation in the first place, has been strangely quiet in the past few days.

"It is about time she showed some leadership and sorted out her frontbench."

Media contact:  Tony Robertson 222 9595