[Greens-Media] Majority verdicts bill a test of Peter Breen*s mettle

[Alison Orme]

MEDIA RELEASE- 9 May 2006

Majority verdicts bill a test of Peter Breen's mettle

Greens MP and justice spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says the Majority
Verdicts Bill, due for debate in the Upper House today, will test
whether former independent MP Peter Breen, who defected to Labor on the
weekend, sold his principles when he joined the party.

"The Greens will now propose Breen's amendment that requires
unanimous verdicts for murder and other crimes carrying a life
sentence," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The government may either accept this amendment, showing a deal was
struck with Breen, or reject it foreshadowing Breen's future as a
powerless backbencher.

"The Majority Verdicts Bill demolishes the long cherished principle
of establishing guilt beyond reasonable doubt that will convict the
innocent and is symbolic of the arrogance of the Iemma government.

"Labor has chosen to push through a measure opposed by the High Court
of Australia, NSW Bar Association, NSW Law Reform Commission and Council
of Civil Liberties.

"The government is looking for a popularist headline at the cost of
convicting the innocent.

"The Greens believe a hung jury should not be seen as a failure of
the criminal justice system but an expression of it. 

"Hung juries have a legitimate role to play in the criminal justice
system. They can protect the innocent from incarceration and society
from the tragedies of miscarriages of justice.

 "It is a furphy to throw out the window a fundamental feature of our
criminal justice system on the basis that it is necessary to save money
and court time.

"If the government chose to look at the evidence it would see that
hung juries are extremely rare. 

"The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research estimates
introducing majority verdicts would result in a potential net saving in
criminal court time of only 1.7% for 10:2 verdicts and 1.1% for 11:1
verdicts.
 
"NSW will be out on the limb if this Bill is passed considering all
States and Territories, apart from the Northern Territory, allow
majority verdicts in murder cases," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information:  0427 861 568 or 9230-3551


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Tues, Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au