The Sentencing (Breaches of Home Detention Orders) Amendment Bill 2023 has been released for public consultation today.
Attorney-General and Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, Elise Archer, said the Bill seeks to ensure more timely and consistent responses to a breach of conditions of home detention orders, including improvements to electronic monitoring device conditions.
"Home detention provides an alternative to imprisonment that allows offenders to remain living in and continue to contribute to their community," the Attorney-General said.
"Our Government introduced it as an additional sentencing option and I am very pleased with its take up by the courts as it plays an important role in our Corrections system.
"The amendments proposed in the draft Bill released today will enhance the framework within which this sentencing option operates, particularly in relation to the electronic monitoring requirements, to ensure it functions effectively.
"The Bill will also introduce two new offences within the Sentencing Act 1997, to deter any person under a home detention from removing or disabling their advice.
"Under the amendments, it will be an offence for a person subject to a home detention order to tamper with, damage or disable any device used for the purpose of the electronic monitoring.
"It will also be an offence for a third party, not subject to the order, to tamper with, damage or disable any device used for the purpose of the electronic monitoring."
The draft Bill is available on the Department of Justice "Have Your Say" website (https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/community-consultation) along with details of how to provide feedback. Consultation will close at 5.00pm on Wednesday, 23 August 2023.
