C - Victoria - Sentencing

The Victorian Attorney-General has asked the Sentencing Advisory Council to investigate the adequacy of the maximum penalties that currently apply for the offence of "sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16". This follows community anger over a case where a maximum nine-year prison term was given in late 2008 to a man who attacked a girl two weeks after her 10th birthday.

There are three maximum penalties:

* child aged under 10, the maximum penalty is 25 years' imprisonment.

* child between 10 and under 16 and is under the care, supervision or authority of the offender - 15 years.

* Child between 10 and under 16 and not under such care - 10 years.

ACTION: Submissions were invited - and closed on 1st May 2009.

A Consultation paper was released. It "uses case studies to illustrate situations in which this type of offending can occur and concludes with a series of questions to assist with making a submission."

We suggest asking for tougher penalties.

Submissions closed Friday 1 May 2009.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mail: Sentencing Advisory Council, Level 4, 436 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000.