Fears over "one punch" laws

[boris1gary]

Just like the so called "anti-bikie" laws, laws that might appear OK on the surface often have effects that aren't acceptable.

Fears over “one-punch” laws

Rudi Maxwell

Legal organisations in NSW are concerned that the much-publicised new “one-punch” laws will mean more Aboriginal people go to jail. The O’Farrell government recently introduced the first suite of new legislation that is supposed to deal with “coward-punch” incidents, but also includes huge increases in on-the-spot fines for offensive language, failure to comply with “move-on” directions by police and offensive behaviour.

NSW ACT Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) chief legal officer John McKenzie told the Koori Mail newspaper that based on the numbers of Aboriginal clients it represents, the new laws would mean 1,000 more Aboriginal people in jail each year in NSW.

cpa.org.au/guardian/index.html

[lakeland27]

the laws don't seem well thought out.   these cases should be handled case by case.. the prime motivation for the introduction of these laws is populism. newspapers are not good at law making.

[icyfroth]

Several people did speak out re the one punch laws such as:

• Eight-year minimum sentencing for alcohol or drug-fuelled assaults ending in death.
• Serious assault maximum penalty increased by two years, with mandatory minimum sentences.
• On the spot fines for disorderly behaviour increased from $200 to $1,100.
• Police have powers to immediately ban 'troublemakers' from CBD/Kings Cross.
• Penalty for possession of steroids increased from two to 25 years.

 to say they would put a huge burden on an already overloaded legal system and put further pressure on crowded gaols. I think it's all for the  good but would rather see stronger preventative measures such as:

• CBD/Kings Cross venues to have 1:30am lockouts with drinks stopping at 3:00am.
• Bottle shops across NSW to close at 10:00pm.
•  More regular public transport services out of the city after midnight.

From Here

[catsnknots]

I don't care what race someone is... if they one puch knock out a person they need to be punished... no excuses... 

[lakeland27]

 2 blokes fight, one hits his head. who is responsible. in the county court last year a solicitor i know defended a boy on a charge of this type and he walked, the other guy was the aggressor but one punch and he was down (hitting his head) these two were friends.

the outcome was the right one, why bother with new laws unless its a reaction.. existing law covers it as it should.

[boris1gary]

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@catsnknots wrote:

I don't care what race someone is... if they one puch knock out a person they need to be punished... no excuses... 

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That isn't what the article is about, it's the other consequences of these laws.

[boris1gary]

hopefully this link works.

http://www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2014/1627/10-fears-over-one-punch-laws.html

[catsnknots]

sorry but I will not read anything from the Communist Party Of Australia... 

We are not a communist country and I hope we never become one and have zero interest in reading anything they have to say. 

I read the lines you post in your OP.. that is all I was reposting to. 

[lakeland27]

 that old 'reds under the bed' scaremongering lives on.

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@catsnknots wrote:

sorry but I will not read anything from the Communist Party Of Australia... 

We are not a communist country and I hope we never become one and have zero interest in reading anything they have to say. 

I read the lines you post in your OP.. that is all I was reposting to. 

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We are not a Muslim country either, but I hope that would not  prevent you acknowledging some of the very worthwhile news broadcasts put out by Al Jazeera.