FED: PM rules out conscience vote on mandatory sentences

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2000
FED: PM rules out conscience vote on mandatory sentences

CANBERRA, Feb 15 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out a conscience vote on
overriding mandatory sentencing laws.

A number of government backbenchers urged federal intervention against Northern Territory
and West Australian mandatory sentencing laws during a joint party room meeting today.

Some referred to Greens Senator Bob Brown's private members bill, that would use federal
external affairs powers to override the laws as they apply to children, a government spokesman
said.

"But the prime minister's remarks at the end of the discussion made it clear that this
is something that the government should respond to, rather than it being a conscience
vote," the spokesman said.

Mr Howard cited the precedent of Tasmania's anti-homosexuality laws, when the coalition
took the decision to support the then-Labor government in overturning them.

AAP rmg/mfh/de

KEYWORD: MANDATORY VOTE

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