The Liberal/National Coalition's vision for a safe and secure NSW

Under Labor, crime rates in NSW have risen across almost all categories. The public has lost confidence in sentences handed down by the courts.

The NSW Liberal/National Coalition will confront crime and restore safety to our streets by returning police to local communities and increasing sentences for serious criminals. After eight years, Labor has failed to reduce crime and improve safety across NSW. Labor has downgraded police stations and failed to address weak sentences handed down by the courts to murderers, rapists, paedophiles and drug dealers.

After eight years Labor has failed in crime and safety in NSW:

• sexual assault is up by 62 per cent;
• robbery without a weapon is up 77 per cent;
• armed Robbery (robbery with a firearm} is up 30 per cent;
• assault is up by 73 per cent; and
• Labor remains well short of its promised target of 14,400 police "available for duty".

Compulsory Minimum Sentences

The Liberal/National Coalition will deliver justice in NSW through tough compulsory minimum sentences. Under Labor:

• the most common gaol sentence for murder is just 14 years, despite the maximum being life imprisonment;
• the most common gaol sentence for aggravated sexual assault (violent rape) is just three years, despite the maximum being 20 years; and
• the median gaol sentence for heroin dealers who supply a large commercial quantity is 4.5 years, despite the maximum being life.

The Liberal/National Coalition will introduce compulsory minimum sentences for serious violent offences including:

• first-degree murder, attracting a compulsory minimum sentence of 25 years;
• second-degree murder, attracting a compulsory minimum sentence of l5 years;
• murder of a police officer, attracting a compulsory life sentence;
• serious assault on a police officer, attracting a compulsory minimum sentence of four years;
• gang rape, attracting a compulsory minimum sentence of l5 years;
• aggravated sexual assault (violent rape), attracting a compulsory minimum sentence of 10 years;
• those convicted of dealing in a large commercial quantity of hard drugs will receive a compulsory minimum sentence of 10 years; and
• crimes proven to be motivated by "hate" will attract a compulsory 25 per cent increase in the penalty imposed.

Providing for Oversight of the Director of Public Prosecution

A Liberal/National Coalition government will establish a seven-year fixed term for the appointment of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and a Parliamentary Committee of Oversight for the Office of the DPP that will:

• monitor, review and report to Parliament on the performance of the DPP;
• seek explanations of decisions that confuse or distress victims or conflict with community values and expectations;
• have the power to recommend that the Attorney General ask the DPP to reconsider their decisions; and
• make recommendations on annual taxpayer funding and comment on budget management.

In appropriate cases where the DPP fails to appeal against lenient sentences, a Liberal/National Coalition Attorney General will exercise his or her right to appeal the case.

Plea Bargaining

A Liberal/National Coalition government will change the process of plea-bargaining to ensure justice is served by: