Tougher penalties for convicted arsonists

Member for the Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has backed a zero tolerance crackdown on firebugs with the State Government proposing a considerable increase to the non-parole period for convicted arsonists.

Last week the government introduced an amendment which reflects recommendations made by the Sentencing Council.

Mr Marshall said with so much dry material on the ground, the region was already facing a horror bushfire season – without arsonists added to the mix.

“This amendment which sees the standard non-parole period for arsonists raised from five years to nine is about saying we won’t tolerate people endangering lives by lighting fires for their own enjoyment,” Mr Marshall said.

Last year Attorney General Mark Speakman asked the Sentencing Council to review the standard non-parole period.

As a result of the review, the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 will be amended to increase the standard non-parole period for the bushfire offence. Mr Marshall said the offence would apply to the charge of intentionally causing a fire and being reckless about it spreading on public land or someone else’s property.

“The tougher standard non-parole period builds on State Government’s introduction of a tougher penalty for the bushfire offence, which increased the maximum penalty from 14 to 21 years in November last year,” he said.

“Our fire risk is already high because of the prolonged drought and I urge all property owners to be aware of the conditions when considering lighting a fire regardless of if the Bush Fire Danger period has started in their area or not.”

Currently there is a high fire danger rating in place for the North Western, New England and Northern Slopes areas.