MEDIA RELEASE

Report tabled - Penalties for Minor Offences and Vulnerable people

Today the Chair of Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety, Mr Peter Cain MLA, tabled the Committee’s report for its Inquiry into Penalties for Minor Offences and vulnerable people.

The Committee heard that penalties can have a disproportionate impact on sections of the community.  Failure to pay as a result of an inability to afford the penalty can lead to cascading consequences that could potentially be avoided.

Recommendations include measures to make penalties fairer for people, and improve access to alternative options.

The Committee’s report, is available on the Assembly’s webpage at

https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/parliamentary-business/in-committees/recent-reports

The report made 13 recommendations covering a range of issues relating to the inquiry.  The Committee would like to thank those who made submissions and participated in the public hearings.

Under the Assembly’s standing orders, the ACT Government is required to respond to Committee reports within four months of tabling.

26 October 2023

STATEMENT ENDS.

Committee Chair, Mr Peter Cain MLA on (02) 6205 1927

Committee Secretary, Ms Kathleen de Kleuver, on (02) 6207 0524 or at LACommitteeJCS@parliament.act.gov.au