Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Justice spokesperson
The government today supported the Greens' amendment that improved the laws around the treatment of sex offenders. Our amendment means offenders who have assaulted sex workers will also be required to undertake treatment in prison.
The community expects sex workers to be treated with justice and humanity. The legislation now makes it clear that people who assault, threaten, or drug sex workers will also have to undergo psychological treatment.
Unfortunately, the government has created extra pressure on the prison system by tying the mandatory removal of remissions to treatment in this legislation. Given the current prison environment, it doesn't make sense to take away the most important tool that prison officers have to ensure the orderly functioning of the prison system.
Remissions represent the ability for a prisoner's sentence to be reduced for good behaviour. They're an essential part of our corrections system.