Friday, March 29, 2024

Government cracks down on firebugs: Maher, Szakacs

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The Hon. Kyam Maher, Attorney-General (SA), The Hon. Joe Szakacs, Minister for Police and Correctional Services (SA), Joint Media Release, 1 November 2022

Tough new measures to allow authorities to better monitor the movements of convicted bushfire offenders during the fire danger season will be introduced to State Parliament this week.

The Bill delivers on an election commitment to help keep the community safe from firebugs.

Under the Bill, authorities would be able to apply to the Magistrates Court to seek an indefinite electronic monitoring order that would apply during fire danger seasons.

The orders would only apply to people convicted or found guilty of a bushfire offence and when the court is satisfied that the defendant still poses a risk to the community.

Quotes attributable to Kyam Maher

South Australians know all too well the devastation that bushfires can wreak on our community.

These laws will help SA Police keep track of firebugs that pose a risk to the community when the state is on high alert.

It’s another way of reinforcing the Malinauskas Government’s commitment to keeping South Australians safe.

Quotes attributable to Joe Szakacs

SA Police work around the clock to keep South Australians safe, and there’s no doubt that the challenge of keeping us safe escalates tremendously on days of extreme fire danger.

By giving SAPOL the ability to keep track of individuals who may seek to put others’ lives at risk, authorities will have another tool to minimise the risk of devastating bushfires.

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