Vic: Push for child killer laws to also target mums' inaction

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2007
Vic: Push for child killer laws to also target mums' inaction

By Catherine Best

MELBOURNE, Aug 17 AAP - Proposed tightening of laws for child killers should be expanded
to target spouses who turn a blind eye to home violence, a justice group says.

People Against Lenient Sentencing (PALS) president Steve Medcraft wants a charge of
culpable parenting introduced to prosecute parents who knowingly allow child abuse to
continue.

Mr Medcraft said children's lives could have been saved if mothers and parents were
more accountable for protecting their children against violent partners.

"Parents have to be responsible for their children's safety and you can't just say
'It's the violent de facto'," Mr Medcraft told AAP.

"If you're a part of that relationship, surely to goodness you can tell somebody or
make police aware that the partner is violent towards that child.

"A number of kids would be alive today if a charge like that had of been brought forward
or intervention had of been made earlier and there has to be mechanisms in place where
parents (can alert authorities).

"There must be some sort of helpline that the government can set up where parents can
go to to say that their child is being abused by a de facto or a parent."

The Victorian government is finalising new legislation designed to help encourage sentencing
judges to increase prison terms specifically handed down to child killers.

This week the minimum 10-year jail sentence was given to Melbourne man Stuart John
McMaster, who bashed to death his girlfriend's five-year-old son Cody Hutchings.

Mr Medcraft welcomed the toughening of laws for child killers but said it was too little
too late.

He accused Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls of "sitting on his hands" for too long
and ignoring victims.

It had taken a change of premier for the government to finally act, he said.

"We've been yelling and screaming for a number of years and we've had the door shut
in our face. But I think what's happened now is the hinges have broken and the door's
come down," Mr Medcraft said.

AAP cmb/ce/cjh/mn

KEYWORD: MCMASTER SENTENCING

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.