On 4 November 2022, the Attorney General asked us to review sentencing for firearms, knives and other weapons offences.
We transmitted our Report: Firearms, knives and other weapons offences (PDF, 1.3 MB) to the Attorney General on 29 May 2024. It was released on 3 September 2024.
The following documents were part of the consultation process for our Report:
We received the following terms of reference on 4 November 2022:
The Sentencing Council is asked to conduct a review of sentencing for firearms, knives and other weapons offences (focusing on but not limited to offences involving the use or carrying of firearms, knives and other weapons), and make any recommendations for reform that it considers appropriate.
In undertaking this review, the Sentencing Council should:
1. provide sentencing statistics for convictions and penalty notices (where relevant) over a five-year period;
2. provide information on the characteristics of offenders, sentence type and length;
3. provide background information, including:
a. the key sentencing principles and reasoning employed by sentencing judges;
b. the mitigating subjective features of offenders; and
c. any other significant factors considered in sentencing decisions that explain how courts come to their final decision on sentence (which may be done using case-studies or collation of predominate themes across cases);
4. consider whether the standard non parole periods where identified remain appropriate;
5. consider whether offences for which penalty notices are available remain appropriate;
6. consider whether the maximum penalties for the offences are appropriate with reference to other jurisdictions;
7. consider whether any existing summary offences should be made indictable offences;
8. consider any other matter the Council considers relevant.
27 Nov 2024
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have to this land and recognise Aboriginal people as the original custodians of this land.