State Member for Maroochydore has called on the Government to appeal the sentence recently handed out to the offender of a violent alcohol-fuelled assault in Maroochydore.
Fiona Simpson MP spoke in Parliament this week about concerns raised by members of the Sunshine Coast community that inappropriate sentencing is allowing violent offenders to walk free from court while the suffering of their victims goes on.
Ms Simpson said that Tyson Joel Wylie was given a slap on the wrist for seriously assaulting a man at a Maroochydore taxi rank, despite the fact that he had committed a similar violent attack on the Gold
Coast a week before.
Ms Simpson said the community is calling for tougher penalties for senseless attacks like the recent unprovoked attack on a Kawana Shoppingworld security guard where, yet again, the perpetrator walked away with a suspended sentence.
“The community wants to see people who commit violent crimes like this locked up, not given a slap on the wrist,” Ms Simpson said.
“There needs to be appropriate consequences for offenders and tougher penalties to deter people from this senseless violence.
“The victims of these crimes are often left with serious injuries and damaged lives following a violent assault like this and they want to see justice being done.
Ms Simpson said that she had written to the Attorney General and Police Minister asking for the sentence to be appealed in response to concerns raised by members of the community.
Ms Simpson again called on the Government to resolve the issue of funding for public safety measures at the busiest taxi rank on the Sunshine Coast and provide an integrated strategy to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.
“After months of lobbying on behalf of the community, I am pleased to see that a taxi marshal has finally been provided at the Ocean Street taxi rank on Friday and Saturday nights, but we still don’t know how long this will continue for.
“It’s less than 2 months ‘til Christmas and people want to be able to go out, have fun and stay safe over the festive period,” Ms Simpson said.
“We need certainty that this funding will continue and we need to hear what this Labor Government are going to do to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.
“We don’t want to see another violent incident occur here while public safety measures are left in limbo by this Government following the scrapping of funding for the LNP’s Safe Night Out Strategy.
“It is simply irresponsible to scrap one plan to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence without providing an alternative.
“We need action by this Government now to so we can do everything possible to ensure that violent thugs are locked up, public safety measures are in place and people can go out and enjoy themselves this festive season.”
Click here to see my speech in Parliament: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/broadcast-chamber/archive?file=20151029_184611
