Hi Everyone,

We are getting traction with the petition, with three state attorney generals responding to the media on Saturday indicating they are prepared to look at toughening their sentencing laws for crimes of murder with sexual assault.

The petition got media coverage on the weekend in a number of states: The Daily Telegraph (NSW), The Herald Sun (Vic), The Advertiser (SA), NT News, The Mercury (Tas) and The Weekly Times (Rural).

In the article NSW, Victoria and Queensland Attorney Generals responded positively.

“And help could come from NSW, Queensland and Victorian authorities with NSW Attorney-General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman agreeing laws had to match community expectations and Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman saying she would listen.

The Victorian Government too yesterday said it was on board to participate in a national discussion.”

NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman lead the way referencing the NSW Murder and Manslaughter Sentencing Review which is being finalised.

“Because of my concern that sentences for murder in NSW may not be consistent with community expectations, I asked the NSW Sentencing Council to prepare a review of sentencing of homicides, including domestic and family violence homicides,” Mr Speakman said.

He said the report is due soon and is expected to go to all state attorneys general.

I made submissions to this murder sentencing review calling for mandatory life sentencing without parole for crimes of rape and murder and for the crime to be made a stand alone offence. I made a preliminary submission in March 2019.

http://www.sentencingcouncil.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Current-projects/Homicide/PMU14.pdf

And I made a submission in response to the consultation paper in February 2020.

http://www.sentencingcouncil.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Current-projects/Homicide/MU30.pdf

Disappointingly the Federal Attorney General Christian Porter has so far rejected my petition request to put the law reform on the agenda of the Council of Attorneys General CAG meeting, saying it’s a state issue.

However, the article reinforced my message that while criminal laws are a state issue, violence against women is a national crisis demanding a national response.

And that the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Committee recommend Australia adopt federal legislation to address violence against women.

In the article Christian Porter did acknowledge that a meeting of attorneys general could be the forum to raise such issues.

Where to now? We have made a solid start with NSW, VIC and QLD at the table, but we still need to keep the pressure on. And we still need to get SA, NT, WA, ACT and TAS to the table:

• SA Attorney-General Vickie Chapman
• NT Attorney-General Selena Uibo
• WA Attorney-General John Quigley
• ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay
• TAS Attorney-General Elise Archer

Please share this petition widely and feel free to contact your state Attorney-General directly.

Together, we can unite with one voice and bring about this critical law reform for the safety of women and children in our nation.

Yours sincerely,

Eileen Culleton
Sister of murdered rape victim Anne-Marie Culleton