{"id":224432,"date":"2026-08-18T14:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T04:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petergeorgeforfranklin.com\/?p=224432"},"modified":"2026-08-18T14:15:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T04:15:58","slug":"speech-war-memorials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petergeorgeforfranklin.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/18\/speech-war-memorials\/","title":{"rendered":"SPEECH – War Memorials"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SPEECH – War Memorials<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Peter's speech in response to the passing of legislation increasing penalties for damage to war memorials<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Honourable chair,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I recognise the Hon Member for Bass, Mr Ferguson, has a\u00a0heart-felt\u00a0reason for bringing this legislation to the Parliament.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I recognise the passionate address to this House by the Hon Minister Pearce comes from deep seated experience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I also recognise that this should not be a debate for party politics but should come from a place in which common good takes precedence over all else.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is legislation I would like to support but cannot.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I would wish\u00a0to,\u00a0since\u00a0no sane person condones vandalism or desecration of war memorials.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019re\u00a0mindless, offensive, hurtful to veterans and their families.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They deserve to bear\u00a0serious consequences.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I have been with Australian forces in areas of conflict and recognise their service.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But this legislation\u00a0seeks\u00a0to slip in an issue that is counter to good public policy and the administration of justice in this state.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I am and have always been opposed to the imposition of mandatory minimum penalties.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This legislation imposes a minimum penalty of 25 points -\u00a0maybe not\u00a0a huge sum - but significant.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I know there was\u00a0strong argument\u00a0in the Legislative Council to\u00a0seek to amend the Bill on this very matter \u2013 along with reducing the\u00a0maximum\u00a0sentence from\u00a0seven\u00a0years to three.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I find myself accepting the amendment but opposing the Bill because of its imposition of a minimum penalty and the precedent that sets.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A mandatory\u00a0minimum\u00a0fine is a significant departure from sound sentencing principles.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s\u00a0not for this parliament to set\u00a0minimum\u00a0sentences or penalties as a matter of principle \u2013\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a matter for judges and magistrates to impose penalties and sentences that fit the\u00a0particular circumstances\u00a0of the crime and of the offender.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Courts consider intent, mental health, age, capacity to pay, prior offending,\u00a0remorse\u00a0and prospects for rehabilitation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What courts\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0do \u2013 and nor should they \u2013 is impose one-size fits all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Serious offending should attract serious punishment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But that punishment should be imposed by the courts, not by parliament.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This legislation sets a serious and unwarranted precedent, for when we impose mandatory minimums,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0at the top of a slippery slope.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today we honour\u00a0around 60,000\u00a0Australians who served in Vietnam, many who still bear the mental health scars of the conflict.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We acknowledge and mourn the 523 Australians who died in the conflict lost their lives and the thousands who were wounded.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m\u00a0therefore a melancholy duty to oppose this legislation on this day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, this parliament should not impose inflexible and\u00a0ultimately inconsistent\u00a0conditions that\u00a0ultimately undermine\u00a0sound sentencing principles.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

18th August 2026<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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