In March, the House debated a proposal, introduced...

In March, the House debated a proposal, introduced in 1998 by opposition Justice Spokesman Lawrence Springborg and known as "truth in sentencing" in a bid to ensure that serious violent offenders serve 100% of their jail terms. Attorney-General Matt Foley said the Government would oppose it. Labor backbencher Gordon Nuttall told Parliament that increasing jail terms will soon leave Governments with no option. "If we as a society continue down this path the next logical step is the death penalty." But Independent Shaun Nelson said he supported the Bill: "I find it personally ridiculous and abhorrent that bleeding hearts think that people of this caliber shouldn't do 100 % of their sentence."