Same Crime, Same Time: Sentencing of Federal Offenders (ALRC 103)
In July 2004, the federal Attorney-General, the Hon Philip Ruddock MP, asked the ALRC to examine the laws and practices governing sentencing of federal offenders, that is, people convicted of criminal offences set out in Commonwealth, rather than state and territory, legislation. The initial Terms of Reference asked the ALRC to report no later than 31 January 2006.
In January 2005, the ALRC released an Issues Paper— Sentencing of Federal Offenders (IP 29) —that outlined the issues under consideration.
A period of public consultation followed and a Discussion Paper— Sentencing of Federal Offenders (DP 70) —with proposals for reform was released in November 2005.
On 19 December 2005 the Attorney-General extended the reporting date for the inquiry to 28 April 2006.
The final report— Same Crime, Same Time: Sentencing of Federal Offenders (ALRC 103)—was delivered to the Attorney-General on 28 April 2006 and tabled in federal Parliament on 13 September 2006.
The recommendations of ALRC 103 have not yet been implemented.
Media Releases relating to this inquiry:
- ‘Same crime, same time’: ALRC calls for consistency in federal sentencing (22 June 2006)
- Federal sentencing laws need major overhaul (29 November 2005)
- Inadequate federal sentencing laws need reform (3 February 2005)
- Same crime, different time? ALRC says federal sentencing laws need review (26 July 2004)
Fact sheet: