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Perth Now
4 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Surprise law that doesn't exist in all states
New Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has been called to address 'pathetic' gaps in bestiality laws, where only three states currently outlaw materials showing acts of the animal torture. While the act of bestiality is illegal, only NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania have banned the possession, distribution and production of materials depicting bestiality. NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said the 'pathetic' gaps in legislation mean authorities don't have the means to convict criminals for committing the horrific crimes. Ms Hurst, who championed stronger laws in NSW, has called for the Commonwealth Criminal Code to introduce new offences for using a carriage service to possess, produce or share animal sexual abuse materials within or outside Australia. She's also calling for a federal taskforce to target offenders perpetrating these crimes. 'Many dangerous criminals are escaping conviction because of gaps in our laws. We must make sure our laws protect children and animals,' she told NewsWire. NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst says the current bestiality laws are lacking on a national basis. NewsWire / Simon Bullard. Credit: News Corp Australia She has called on the new federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to act immediately. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'While further legislative changes are looking very hopeful in NSW, there is still the enormous issue that across the country, laws are still lacking. 'Given the gravity of the crimes, federal legislation in this space is sorely needed and should be urgently prioritised by the new federal Attorney-General.' Ms Hurst used the example of Northern Territory man Adam Britton who was slapped with a 10 year and five month jail sentence after he pleaded guilt to 60 charges of bestiality, animal cruelty and possessing child abuse material in August 2024. However authorities were unable to charge or convict him of the creation and sharing of bestiality materials due to the lack of such laws in NT legislation. 'There is no law in the NT to prohibit the distribution of such materials so while he was convicted of bestiality, he escaped charges for distribution,' he said. Adam Britton was given a 10-year sentence after pleaded guilty to 60 charges of bestiality, animal cruelty and possessing child abuse material. Credit: Supplied RSPCA NSW general counsel Kathryn Jurd, who has spent eight years running and prosecuting cases for the RSPCA, said differences in state legislation should not act as a barrier to law enforcement charging people with offences which reflect the full extent of their actions. 'When law enforcement discover these heinous crimes, they need to be in a position to charge in a way that reflects exactly what the person has done, what the evidence is capable of proving they have done,' she said. Speaking to the seriousness of cases involving animal sexual abuse material, she said features which 'regularly reoccur' in bestiality cases included the presence of children in the footage, and perpetrators being found in possession of child sexual abuse material. 'People who create animal sexual abuse material don't abide by state lines and the point of the creation of this type of material is often for it to be disseminated globally,' she said. 'Most people would support uniformity, particularly on a topic where there's so much consensus for really strong criminal law coverage across Australia.' An RSPCA lawyer says people who create animal sexual abuse material don't abide by state lines. Credit: News Regional Media While Ms Rowland declined to comment on Ms Hurst's demands, stating that they were a state issue, new shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser gave in-principle support to strengthened laws. 'Acts of bestiality are completely abhorrent,' he said. 'Should the Albanese government seek to introduce national laws to prohibit the creation, possession, and distribution of bestiality materials, I am sure on principle we would be predisposed to support it,' he said.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
New Attorney-General Michelle Rowland called to implement national bestiality material laws
New Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has been called to address 'pathetic' gaps in bestiality laws, where only three states currently outlaw materials showing acts of the animal torture. While the act of bestiality is illegal, only NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania have banned the possession, distribution and production of materials depicting bestiality. NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said the 'pathetic' gaps in legislation mean authorities don't have the means to convict criminals for committing the horrific crimes. Ms Hurst, who championed stronger laws in NSW, has called for the Commonwealth Criminal Code to introduce new offences for using a carriage service to possess, produce or share animal sexual abuse materials within or outside Australia. She's also calling for a federal taskforce to target offenders perpetrating these crimes. 'Many dangerous criminals are escaping conviction because of gaps in our laws. We must make sure our laws protect children and animals,' she told NewsWire. 'While further legislative changes are looking very hopeful in NSW, there is still the enormous issue that across the country, laws are still lacking. 'Given the gravity of the crimes, federal legislation in this space is sorely needed and should be urgently prioritised by the new federal Attorney-General.' Ms Hurst used the example of Northern Territory man Adam Britton who was slapped with a 10 year and five month jail sentence after he pleaded guilt to 60 charges of bestiality, animal cruelty and possessing child abuse material in August 2024. However authorities were unable to charge or convict him of the creation and sharing of bestiality materials due to the lack of such laws in NT legislation. 'There is no law in the NT to prohibit the distribution of such materials so while he was convicted of bestiality, he escaped charges for distribution,' he said. RSPCA NSW general counsel Kathryn Jurd, who has spent eight years running and prosecuting cases for the RSPCA, said differences in state legislation should not act as a barrier to law enforcement charging people with offences which reflect the full extent of their actions. 'When law enforcement discover these heinous crimes, they need to be in a position to charge in a way that reflects exactly what the person has done, what the evidence is capable of proving they have done,' she said. Speaking to the seriousness of cases involving animal sexual abuse material, she said features which 'regularly reoccur' in bestiality cases included the presence of children in the footage, and perpetrators being found in possession of child sexual abuse material. 'People who create animal sexual abuse material don't abide by state lines and the point of the creation of this type of material is often for it to be disseminated globally,' she said. 'Most people would support uniformity, particularly on a topic where there's so much consensus for really strong criminal law coverage across Australia.' While Ms Rowland declined to comment on Ms Hurst's demands, stating that they were a state issue, new shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser gave in-principle support to strengthened laws. 'Acts of bestiality are completely abhorrent,' he said. 'Should the Albanese government seek to introduce national laws to prohibit the creation, possession, and distribution of bestiality materials, I am sure on principle we would be predisposed to support it,' he said.
West Australian
09-05-2025
- West Australian
Police reveal bombshell new information on radicalised Willetton student shot dead by police
WA Police have revealed for the first time that a radicalised teenager's attempt to stab a stranger before being fatally shot when he charged at officers with a knife has been officially declared an 'act of terrorism'. The confirmation comes a year after Willetton boy, James, 16, was shot dead by police after he stabbed a stranger in a Bunnings carpark on May 4. In his final message before the attack, James warned friends he was 'going on the path of jihad tonight for the sake of Allah'. At the time, WA's top cop Col Blanch said even though the attack met the definition of a terrorist act, he refused to officially designate it as such because emergency powers given to police under those circumstances were not required. Police on Friday confirmed independent legal advice had identified that the evidence met the threshold as provided within section 101 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code. 'Therefore, the incident has been determined as an act of terrorism,' a spokesperson said. 'The matter is now before the Coroner, and in respect of that process, no further comment will be made.' It comes as authorities refuse to release the number of West Australians taking part in de-radicalisation programs and the State Government launches a new website to disengage people from violent extremism. After the Willetton attack, the Government released figures that showed 141 people around the country were taking part in voluntary deradicalisation programs. Nine of those people, including James and four other juveniles, were based in WA. This week, police said they did not comment on the number of participants 'for operational reasons'. A State Government spokesperson said the WA Police Force-led countering violence extremism program supported 'a small number' of people, but would not provide figures. 'A new website has now been launched, which means for the first time, information about WA's CVE program is publicly available alongside a referral pathway for members of the public who are concerned about a family member or themselves being drawn towards violent extremist views,' the spokesperson said. The confirmation comes a year after Willetton boy, James, 16, was shot dead by police after he stabbed a stranger in a Bunnings carpark on May 4. Credit: Unknown / Supplied The website describes signs that suggest someone may be heading down the path of violent extremism, including becoming withdrawn, viewing and sharing violent and extremist content or showing intense ideological, political or religious interest. Anyone can report concerns to the intervention and support program, operated by WA Police. The spokesperson said the new website provided important public awareness, education and access to help. 'Prevention and early intervention are key to supporting individuals to disengage from a path of violent extremism,' they said. 'The CVE program is constantly being reviewed by the force to provide the most effective support through peer or religious monitoring, mental health help, mentoring, and education and employment services. It also aims to reduce the individual's access to online material.' The Education Department is also improving its processes for managing young people identified as being at risk of violent extremism. 'This includes leading the development of a multi-agency agreement specific to young people at risk of violent extremism, which will see strengthened information-sharing between all education sectors and WA Police,' the spokesperson said.
