Troy Grants Big Bail Lie. A Statement from the Country Labor Campaign for the seat of Dubbo. I know people are sick of politicians and candidates who constantly call each other liars. It’s negative, boring and doesn’t help produce good policy. But on this, I hope rare, occasion I am calling Troy Grant out on a lie he has told. I am doing so because the issue is so serious and the lie so deliberate and obvious. Read on if you want to know what Troy’s big bail lie was all about. A bit of context. Troy likes to pretend he is “tough on crime”. Generally this involves mouthing slogans, attacking public servants and generally emitting a lot of hot air in trying to fool the community. The reality is, crime in Dubbo has worsened lately in some categories, and Troy doesn’t seem to have any solutions. He won’t even commit to funding for rehabilitation services to help ice addicts, who we all know can go on to rob and steal if they don’t kick their habits. Dubbo has long needed these services and the Nationals haven’t secured them. Troy doesnt even have a tough on crime law reform history to boast about. Yesterday, when Troy went on Dubbo radio and was asked what his answers are on crime. Troy said: “Well the Bail Act, in relation to what this government has done immediately, puts the presumption for violent offenders, repeat offenders, the onus back on them as to why they should get bail, changed from when Labor had it reversed the other way” That statement was a lie. The cold, hard, undeniable facts are that Labor left NSW with its toughest ever bail laws, including a presumption against bail for repeat violent offenders. In 2013 however, Troy voted for the O’Farrell Government’s law which introduced the most relaxed bail laws the state has seen in decades. That law included a presumption in favour of bail, even for repeat violent offenders. Following some high profile cases the government came under pressure and sought advice from former Labor Attorney-General John Hatzistergos on how to amend the new bail law. The government then adopted the Hatzistergos advice and amended the Bail Act to introduce the onus referred to by Troy Grant in the interview. Troy should apologise to the community and admit he misled them yesterday. Will he have the guts and the integrity to do so? I hope so. I will be turning on 2DU every morning in the hope I hear Troy on the radio correcting this lie. A big thank you also to those who messaged me with support after hearing Troy’s silly personal attacks on me in the same interview. Don’t worry, I have dealt with nastier than Troy in my life and career in law and international development. To be honest I’m really enjoying the cut and thrust of the campaign and can’t wait to start fighting for the community as the member for Dubbo. But thank you for your concern. Stephen Lawrence, Country Labor Candidate for Dubbo.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 06:57:22 +0000
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