[theadvocate.com.au – 5/1/19] Speaker Sue Hickey has scuttled the government’s attempts to impose mandatory sentences on serious child-sex offenders. In making her casting vote on Wednesday night, Ms Hickey said she was surprised a bill, which had already been rejected by Parliament once before, had been reintroduced without amendments. She said she had taken advice from legal professionals opposed to mandatory sentencing provisions in reaching her decision and was worried about unintended consequences arising from its implementation. Attorney-General Elise Archer in the debate said mandatory sentences sent a strong message…
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