SA has no plans for 'one punch' laws
The South Australian government has no plans to follow NSW in introducing mandatory sentences for 'one punch' assaults.
Attorney-General John Rau said he may consider automatic prison time for one punch offenders if he sees positive results from new laws interstate.
Alcohol and drug-fuelled assaults in New South Wales will cop a minimum two year’s jail, and if the victim dies, it will be eight years.
Mr Rau said he will review the laws in South Australia in a year.
“At the moment I have not seen any evidence-based suggestion that mandatory minimum sentences actually change behaviour,” Mr Rau said.
Nat Cook from the Sammy D Foundation lost her son in a coward’s punch attack.
She said money spent jailing more offenders would be better used in education programs.
“I’m against those solutions that are quick fixes,” she said.
“Cultural change is not an overnight solution, you need to put a lot of thought into it, you need to invest in it and it’s not cheap.”
But Family First MP Robert Brokenshire wants to see offenders here thrown the same book as those in Sydney.
“Once the message goes out there these people will think again because I’m told that some of these people think it’s a game and they go out planning this before they even get to the city,” Mr Brokenshire said.
