Improving community safety
Improving community safety

We must distinguish evil crimes (eg, indecently assaulting children) from stupid crimes (eg, a returned resident having a garage sale during isolation). It is not fair to send the garage sale man to jail, but not the man who indecently assaulted a child.

Toughening sentences for evil crime

Support reforms to the sentencing guidelines so that heinous acts are dealt with firmly. Sexual predators who are convicted of indecently assaulting children should go to jail.

Redirecting people who commit trivial offences

Trivial crimes should be deterred by using community service orders by default, not imprisonment.

Stopping waste on trivial charges

Taxpayer resources should not be wasted on prosecutions for possessing trivial amounts of cannabis. We should regulate cannabis locally, helping victims of addiction instead of punishing.

Michael Josem is a long-term consumer advocate, most prominently as a global leader in combating fraud in the online gambling industry. He was in part the inspiration for the 20th Century Fox Movie, Runner Runner, starring Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake.

Josem has over a decade of experience as a senior business leader working across various high-tech and online industries, and takes action to build a better community. His primary volunteer roles include service for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Graih, the homelessness charity.