Source: Courier Mail (Australia) Contact: 6 Oct 1998 ALCOHOL AND DRUGS 'NO EXCUSE' FOR CRIME ALCOHOL and drug abuse would no longer be considered an excuse for criminal behaviour under tough new laws to go before State Parliament. And the criminally insane would be incarcerated for set periods under a second Opposition proposal which may have Government support. Under the plan, judges would no longer be permitted to take into account a criminal's drug or alcohol use as a mitigating circumstance. Many cases before the courts - particularly property and assault offences - involve drugs or alcohol and this is often used by defence lawyers in pleas for leniency. Victims of Crime Queensland director for support services John King said no one should receive a lighter sentence because of drug or alcohol abuse. "They chose to take the drug and they chose to take the alcohol and they should take responsibilities for their crime," he said. Shadow attorney-general Lawrence Springborg said the new law, already in use in Singapore, would force people to accept responsibility for getting drunk or high on drugs. "The fact that the offender was drunk or high on drugs at the time the offence was committed is no comfort whatsoever to the victim," he said. Mr Springborg said the Opposition would determine community support for the proposal before introducing it as a Private Member's Bill. Attorney-General Matt Foley attacked the proposal as another simplistic attempt by the National Party to confront complex problems in its pursuit of One Nation voters. "A person may lose a member of his family, get drunk and in his grief do something he would normally never do such as commit an assault," Mr Foley said. "That does not excuse the crime, but to some extent it may explain it." The Labor Government, however, may support Opposition health spokeswoman Fiona Simpson's proposal to change rules surrounding the Mental Health Tribunal and ensure mentally impaired criminals were not released too early from care. Ms Simpson said there was growing concern at the apparent ease with which people were able to be declared of unsound mind. A spokesman for Health Minister Wendy Edmond said the Government was also reviewing laws surrounding the Mental Health Tribunal. Both new proposals have the support of One Nation leader Bill Feldman but passage of the alcohol and drug laws would depend on support from Independents Liz Cunningham and Peter Wellington. Mr Wellington will gauge support for the ideas from his constituents while Mrs Cunningham was unavailable for comment. - --- Checked-by: Pat Dolan