Cassy O’Connor MLC, Greens Justice Spokesperson
The Liberals’ “tough on crime” approach is increasing court backlogs and clogging up Tasmanian prisons, the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services for justice shows.
The Supreme Court’s pending criminal caseload is the worst in Tasmania’s history and of any state or territory, at 939. Almost half these cases are more than twelve months old, with only 54.9% of criminal cases being finalised within a year – the second worst in the nation.
Only 82.4% of cases were finalised within two years, the worst in the country. The rate of finalisations compared to new lodgements across all criminal courts has hit an all-time low at 81.4% – the lowest of any jurisdiction.
The Liberals’ tough on crime approach is a failure. It’s resulting in increasing delays in our courts and denying hundreds of Tasmanians access to timely justice. If the Liberals really wanted safer communities, they’d be investing in reversing the cycle of disadvantage which leads to crime.
As we know, justice delayed is justice denied and this is a damning indictment on a Liberal Government that prioritises a multi-billion-dollar stadium over what should be core priorities of any decent government.
Cecily Rosol MP, Greens Corrections and Rehabilitation Spokesperson
The number of Tasmanians imprisoned is increasing, with the rate of people in prison per 100,000 now at 169.4. Youth diversions also continue to decrease, down to 30.4% from 61% in 2014-15. The rate of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders entering youth diversion has hit an all-time low of 18.4%, down from 45.8% in 2015-16.
The Liberal Government’s tough on crime approach is seeing more Tasmanians imprisoned. But it’s not reducing crime – all it’s doing is creating overcrowded prisons.
After the Commission of Inquiry, the number of young people being diverting from prison should be increasing, not decreasing. It’s undeniable that the Liberal Government is taking the wrong approach.
The Liberals need to abandon their ineffective “tough on crime” agenda, and instead implement a therapeutic, trauma-informed and preventative approach to justice that evidence shows reduces crime.
