Firearm offences and the standard non-parole period scheme

On 26 November 2003, the Attorney General asked us to consider firearms offences and the standard non-parole sentencing scheme.

Report

We transmitted our Report: Firearms Offences and the Standard Non-Parole Sentencing Scheme (PDF, 599.1 KB) to the Attorney General on 20 May 2004. It was published in May 2005.

Terms of reference

We received the following terms of reference on 26 November 2003:

I write to formally refer an issue for the Sentencing Council to consider pursuant to s 100J(1)(a) and (d) of the Crimes (sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 in relation to firearm offences. 

...

It would be of great assistance if the Sentencing Council would consider whether any other firearm offences (whether in the Crimes Act 1900 or Firearms Act 1996) should be included in the standard non-parole sentencing regime.

In preparation of its report the Council may wish to consider, where appropriate, issues such as:

1. The effect of standard non-parole sentences on section 7 offences to date;

2. Recent changes to the relevant legislation;

3. Whether the perception of inconsistent sentences is valid for firearm offences.